Care of the dying patient: the last hours or days of life * Commentary: a "good death" is possible in the NHS

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7379.30

BMJ 2003;326:30-34 ( 4 January )

Clinical review

Care of the dying patient: the last hours or days of life

Commentary: a "good death" is possible in the NHS

Care of the dying patient: the last hours or days of life

John Ellershaw, consultant in palliative medicine ^a, Chris Ward, consultant cardiologist ^b.

^a Marie Curie Centre Liverpool, Speke Road, Liverpool L25 8QA, ^b Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD2 9SY

Correspondence to: J Ellershaw jellershaw@mariecurie.org.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Evidence based guidelines on symptom control, psychological support, and bereavement are available to facilitate a "good death"

The impact of death in our society is easily underestimated. National events sometimes provide a timely reminder of the powerand influence of a dignified death and the profound effect ithas on the family and those close to the person who has died.Evidence based guidelines now exist to help with the care of peoplewho are dying, including guidelines for symptom control, psychosocialsupport, and bereavement care.^1-3 None the less, highly publicisedcases continue to occur of patients dying in distress with uncontrolledsymptoms and relatives being unsupported at this vulnerable timein their lives.⁴ Ensuring a good death for all is thereforea major challenge not only for healthcare professionals but alsoforsociety.

Mortality data for the United Kingdom show that 608 000 people died in 2000; 25% of these . . . [Full text of this article]

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