End of Life Care in the Emergency Department
Quality end of life care encompasses many aspects:
From the technical competencies of procedural staff to clinicians’ taking time to engage with empathy and compassion, to enabling the death to occur at a place and time of the patient’s (or their family’s) choosing.
Older adults with life limiting illness and informal bereaved caregivers of older Australian patients have told us before about their end of life priorities. They need some sense of control over what happens near the end of their life. They have made it clear that they want to be involved in treatment decisions made about them. And they need clinicians to adhere to their wishes.
https://www.agedcareinsite.com.au/2019/10/doing-everything-near-the-end-of-life-may-be-inappropriate-for-seniors-in-icu/
Managing the patient in the emergency department who is reaching the end of life is complex and at times difficult but is also a very rewarding part of your clinical practice when done well.
Safety and quality of end-of-life care in acute hospitals - a background paper
Many Australians spend their last year of life going in and out of hospital, and more than half of those who die each year do so in acute care settings. The health care that people receive in the last years, months and weeks of their lives can minimise the distress and grief associated with death and dying for both the individual, and their family, friends and carers.
This program of work has stemmed from the work of the recognising and responding to clinical deterioration program. It is clear that a significant proportion of patients who deteriorate in hospital are deteriorating because they are at the end of their lives, and the care that they receive is not always appropriate. Systems and structures for delivering safe and high quality end-of-life care should work in synergy with those for recognising and responding to clinical deterioration.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications/safety-and-quality-of-end-of-life-care-a-background-paper/
Decisions and conversations with relatives and carers of patients about resuscitation status, Advance care plans and patient wishes can be difficult and should be handled in a sensitive, compassionate and professional manner.
Prescribing for palliation and death certification may be an area you are uncomfortable with.
For the above reasons we have pooled a number of resources with quick links to help you navigate the relevant areas.
http://www.ecinsw.com.au/end_of_life
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The Legal Toolkit provides practical information about the law at end of life for the aged care sector. It contains useful resources on end of life legal issues commonly encountered in aged care to help you to know the law and to support your practice. To find out more, read our Legal factsheet (701kb pdf).
02 March 2020
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End of Life Law in Australia provides accurate, practical and relevant information to assist you in navigating the challenging legal issues that can arise with end of life decision-making.
As Australia’s population rapidly ages, legal and ethical issues at the end of life are arising more frequently. Research shows the law in this area is complex and often confusing for patients, families and health professionals, and that barriers to accessible information exist. Our goal is to support the community to know, and better understand, the law at end of life, enhance patient and family participation in decision-making, and improve end of life experiences.
The End of Life Law in Australia website seeks to assist people at all stages of life whether they are dealing with an end of life situation personally, or educating themselves about the law in this area. It addresses some frequently asked questions such as:
Laws relating to death, dying and decision-making can be complicated, and vary between Australian States and Territories. To help you navigate these laws and this website, the legal overview summarises key concepts. Where possible, this website provides external links to relevant publications, forms, organisations and other resources in each Australian State and Territory
Find out more about the law at end of life
For more information about the law at the end of life, select a topic below:
This website is an initiative of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research. It is designed to be used by patients, families, health and legal practitioners, the media, policymakers and the broader community to access information about Australian laws relating to death, dying and decision-making at the end of life.
These laws are very complex, particularly in Australia where the law differs between States and Territories, and where areas of uncertainty about the law exist. This website provides you with a broad introduction to these laws. It can also help you stay up to date with Recent Developments in the end of life area.
30 November 2020
We, the families, are Deeply Grateful for this website. Something that most of us were not aware of. Many thanks.
Yes, it is Scary when this stage of your loved one's life is here. YOU need all the help you can get. Just ASK... You will find the Nurses, Doctors and staff are Very Knowledgeable and Caring. They will help you both...
It's OK to cry... You can stay with them, hold their hand and stroke their hair, and your presence and the sound of your voice will give comfort and love...
It's the fact that YOU are there...
19 December 2020
Quality end of life care encompasses many aspects:
From the technical competencies of procedural staff to clinicians’ taking time to engage with empathy and compassion, to enabling the death to occur at a place and time of the patient’s (or their family’s) choosing.
Older adults with life limiting illness and informal bereaved caregivers of older Australian patients have told us before about their end of life priorities. They need some sense of control over what happens near the end of their life. They have made it clear that they want to be involved in treatment decisions made about them. And they need clinicians to adhere to their wishes.
https://www.agedcareinsite.com.au/2019/10/doing-everything-near-the-end-of-life-may-be-inappropriate-for-seniors-in-icu/
Managing the patient in the emergency department who is reaching the end of life is complex and at times difficult but is also a very rewarding part of your clinical practice when done well.
Safety and quality of end-of-life care in acute hospitals - a background paper
Many Australians spend their last year of life going in and out of hospital, and more than half of those who die each year do so in acute care settings. The health care that people receive in the last years, months and weeks of their lives can minimise the distress and grief associated with death and dying for both the individual, and their family, friends and carers.
This program of work has stemmed from the work of the recognising and responding to clinical deterioration program. It is clear that a significant proportion of patients who deteriorate in hospital are deteriorating because they are at the end of their lives, and the care that they receive is not always appropriate. Systems and structures for delivering safe and high quality end-of-life care should work in synergy with those for recognising and responding to clinical deterioration.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications/safety-and-quality-of-end-of-life-care-a-background-paper/
Decisions and conversations with relatives and carers of patients about resuscitation status, Advance care plans and patient wishes can be difficult and should be handled in a sensitive, compassionate and professional manner.
Prescribing for palliation and death certification may be an area you are uncomfortable with.
For the above reasons we have pooled a number of resources with quick links to help you navigate the relevant areas.
http://www.ecinsw.com.au/end_of_life
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Legal Toolkit provides practical information about the law at end of life for the aged care sector. It contains useful resources on end of life legal issues commonly encountered in aged care to help you to know the law and to support your practice. To find out more, read our Legal factsheet (701kb pdf).
02 March 2020
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
End of Life Law in Australia provides accurate, practical and relevant information to assist you in navigating the challenging legal issues that can arise with end of life decision-making.
As Australia’s population rapidly ages, legal and ethical issues at the end of life are arising more frequently. Research shows the law in this area is complex and often confusing for patients, families and health professionals, and that barriers to accessible information exist. Our goal is to support the community to know, and better understand, the law at end of life, enhance patient and family participation in decision-making, and improve end of life experiences.
The End of Life Law in Australia website seeks to assist people at all stages of life whether they are dealing with an end of life situation personally, or educating themselves about the law in this area. It addresses some frequently asked questions such as:
- Who makes medical treatment decisions for a person who is too unwell to make decisions themselves?
- Does a doctor have to follow the instructions in an advance directive?
- Can a dying patient or their family refuse or demand medical treatment needed to keep the patient alive?
- Is euthanasia and assisted suicide legal in Australia?
- Can a child with a terminal illness make their own medical treatment decisions?
- What happens if family members disagree with a person’s decision to donate their organs when they die?
Laws relating to death, dying and decision-making can be complicated, and vary between Australian States and Territories. To help you navigate these laws and this website, the legal overview summarises key concepts. Where possible, this website provides external links to relevant publications, forms, organisations and other resources in each Australian State and Territory
Find out more about the law at end of life
For more information about the law at the end of life, select a topic below:
- About
- Recent Developments
- Legal Overview
- Advance Directives
- Stopping Treatment
- Palliative Care
- Organ Donation
- Euthanasia and Assisted Dying
- Research Projects
- Publications and Presentations
This website is an initiative of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research. It is designed to be used by patients, families, health and legal practitioners, the media, policymakers and the broader community to access information about Australian laws relating to death, dying and decision-making at the end of life.
These laws are very complex, particularly in Australia where the law differs between States and Territories, and where areas of uncertainty about the law exist. This website provides you with a broad introduction to these laws. It can also help you stay up to date with Recent Developments in the end of life area.
30 November 2020
We, the families, are Deeply Grateful for this website. Something that most of us were not aware of. Many thanks.
Yes, it is Scary when this stage of your loved one's life is here. YOU need all the help you can get. Just ASK... You will find the Nurses, Doctors and staff are Very Knowledgeable and Caring. They will help you both...
It's OK to cry... You can stay with them, hold their hand and stroke their hair, and your presence and the sound of your voice will give comfort and love...
It's the fact that YOU are there...
19 December 2020