Tag

End Of Life Care

All articles tagged with #end of life care

health-policy12 days ago•3 min saved

Medicare to require hospitals to log end-of-life preferences in electronic records by 2028

Medicare proposes hospitals begin recording adults’ end-of-life care preferences (including DNR orders and designated decision-makers) in electronic health records by 2028, with these preferences part of quality metrics that could affect reimbursements from 2030. The goal is to normalize advance care planning and reduce unwanted, costly interventions, though providers warn about added burden and studies show mixed effects on care and outcomes.

via Axios|

#advance-directives #cms #electronic-health-records

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Hearing Persists in the Final Hours, EEG Study Finds

A 2020 University of British Columbia EEG study, published in Scientific Reports, found actively dying hospice patients still exhibit brain responses to sounds hours before death—through event-related potentials—suggesting the voices of loved ones in the room may reach them even when they are unresponsive. The finding lends neural support to hospice guidance to speak normally and play familiar sounds, though it does not prove subjective experience and the study’s small, variably conditioned sample limits broad conclusions.

via Space Daily|

#auditory-processing #eeg #end-of-life-care

health1 month ago•10 min saved

Singing a Goodbye: My First MAID Experience and a Dignified Farewell

A Toronto physician recounts witnessing his 93-year-old patient, Mrs. MacNeil, choose medical assistance in dying (MAID). Surrounded by family and caregivers, she faced the process with autonomy and calm, gifting him a wooden seagull and inviting him to sing as she peacefully died. The experience prompts reflection on what constitutes a dignified death, the primacy of patient autonomy, and the physician’s own confrontation with mortality.

via HuffPost|

#autonomy #canada #death-with-dignity

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Your Legacy: How Values and Meaning Shape Life and Death

A BBC health feature argues that thinking about the legacy we leave behind can boost mental health and give life more meaning, with legacy categorized into biological, material, and values; examples range from organ and body donation to recording life stories and passing on beliefs. Thinking about legacy early in life may reduce death anxiety, encourage prosocial behavior, and guide choices, while end-of-life activities can ease grief and provide comfort for patients and families.

via BBC|

#death #end-of-life-care #health

entertainment2 months ago•16 min saved

Nicole Kidman Pursues Death-Doula Training to Support End-of-Life Care

At a Silk Speaker Series event in San Francisco, Nicole Kidman revealed she is training to become a death doula—a non-medical caregiver who offers emotional, spiritual and practical support for people navigating death—an idea sparked by her mother’s passing in 2024; she notes the need for impartial comfort, a path also pursued by Chloe Zhao.

via Variety|

#chloe-zhao #death-doula #end-of-life-care

health3 months ago•35 min saved

Stomach Pain on European Trek Precedes Rapid Pancreatic Cancer Death

A British couple on the Camino de Santiago experienced worsening stomach pain for husband David, 71; after returning to the UK, he was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer and died about two weeks later, spending 12 days in hospice. His wife, Tacey, is fundraising for St Peter's Hospice through the Tour de Bristol to support end-of-life care.

via Yahoo|

#camino-de-santiago #end-of-life-care #health

business4 months ago•38 min saved

Charlie Munger: End-of-Life Chemotherapy Shouldn’t Be About Profit

Berkshire Hathaway vice chair Charlie Munger criticized end-of-life cancer treatment as often pointless, costly, and driven by financial incentives, calling it ‘evil’ and ‘asinine’ to pour chemotherapy into patients who are essentially dead; he argued there’s a point when medicine should stop and contemplated broader U.S. healthcare reform ideas, including single-payer-style approaches, noting the large role of costs in the economy.

via Yahoo|

#berkshire-hathaway #business #charlie-munger

health5 months ago•29 min saved

Last Moments, Bright Minds: Terminal Lucidity in Children

Scientists are studying terminal lucidity, brief and unexpected moments of mental clarity near death, now observed in children as well as adults. The article highlights cases where dying kids regain speech, recognize family, and offer reassurance before death, including a documented case of a 3-year-old with liver and pulmonary failure. Estimates suggest 2–6% of dying individuals experience such episodes, though underreporting may inflate the true rate. The research explores overlaps with near-death experiences, potential neurological triggers, and the implications for end-of-life care—such as how caregivers respond and whether medications should be escalated—advocating a normalization of these experiences while recognizing that more study is needed to understand consciousness and brain function.

via Nautilus | Science Connected|

#consciousness #dying-children #end-of-life-care

healthcare6 months ago•4 min saved

Hospitals Warn of End-of-Life Care Crisis Threatening Treatment

A crisis in end-of-life care is emerging in Sussex hospitals due to increasing numbers of patients needing palliative care, leading to overcrowded hospitals, difficult decisions for staff, and strained community and hospice services, with concerns that this situation could worsen during winter.

via BBC|

#end-of-life-care #healthcare #hospital-crisis

health8 months ago•7 min saved

Growing Anxiety Over the Fear of Dying Alone

Many older adults living alone face the growing concern of dying without loved ones by their side, due to factors like widowhood, estrangement, or health issues, raising questions about end-of-life support and societal responsibility.

via Katie Couric Media|

#dying-alone #elderly #end-of-life-care

health10 months ago•3 min saved

Many doctors overlook cancer patients' wishes, study reveals

A study reveals that many cancer patients receive treatment aimed at extending life rather than comfort, often against their wishes, highlighting the need for better communication between doctors and patients about care goals.

via upi.com|

#cancer #communication #end-of-life-care

health1 year ago•4 min saved

UK Approves Assisted Dying Amid National Debate

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced there is no budget for an assisted dying service, despite MPs narrowly supporting the legislation, citing existing NHS financial constraints and concerns over end-of-life care quality. The bill, which aims to give terminally ill adults choice in their death, faces scrutiny in the House of Lords, with opponents calling for stronger safeguards and highlighting potential costs and ethical issues.

via BBC|

#assisted-dying #end-of-life-care #health

health-and-wellness1 year ago•6 min saved

What Happens to Your Body During the Dying Process

The article explains that death is a natural bodily process with stages like transition, active dying, and terminal secretions, emphasizing that understanding these stages can reduce fear and improve end-of-life experiences. It highlights the importance of 'death literacy'—knowing what to expect—to help people face death with less anxiety and more acceptance.

via The Guardian|

#death-literacy #death-process #dying-stages

world1 year ago•2 min saved

French Parliament Approves Law Legalizing Assisted Dying

French MPs have approved a bill allowing assisted dying for terminally ill patients in the final stages of their illness, with the law now moving to the Senate. The legislation, supported by President Macron, sets conditions for patients experiencing severe, incurable suffering to self-administer or have a medical assistant administer a lethal dose, after a 48-hour waiting period and multiple consultations. The bill has faced opposition from conservatives and religious groups concerned about vulnerable populations and ethical implications, but it marks a significant step towards end-of-life rights in France, aiming to become law by 2027.

via BBC|

#assisted-dying #end-of-life-care #ethical-debate

health1 year ago•6 min saved

UK Moves Closer to Legalizing Assisted Dying Amid Calls for Palliative Care Reform

Senior doctors in the UK are urging the government to prioritize fixing the palliative care system before advancing legislation on assisted dying, which recently passed its first parliamentary hurdle. Concerns have been raised that funding for assisted dying could detract from palliative care resources, which are already insufficient. The debate highlights the need for improved end-of-life care, with calls for a government-led commission to address the issue. While some MPs believe assisted dying could enhance palliative care, others worry about potential neglect of vulnerable patients.

via BBC.com|

#assisted-dying #end-of-life-care #health