Patient Care and End-of-Life Decision Making

The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Nursing

Betty R. Ferrell, Nessa Coyle

The essence of nursing care continually exposes nurses to suffering. Although they bear witness to the suffering of others, their own suffering is less frequently exposed. This book ... More

The essence of nursing care continually exposes nurses to suffering. Although they bear witness to the suffering of others, their own suffering is less frequently exposed. This book attempts to give voice to the suffering that nurses witness in patients, families, colleagues, and themselves. By making this suffering visible, the book aims both to honor and help solve the problem. The book offers nurses' colleagues in other professions — social workers, psychologists, chaplains, ethicists, and physicians — a window onto what it means to practice nursing. Less

Oncology for Palliative Medicine

Peter Hoskin, Wendy Makin

Consultants and nurses in palliative medicine who do not have a background in oncology need to know about the different types of cancer to be able to deal with palliation in these ... More

Consultants and nurses in palliative medicine who do not have a background in oncology need to know about the different types of cancer to be able to deal with palliation in these patients. The new edition of this book continues to provide comprehensive coverage of cancer management aimed at palliative care professionals. To aid understanding in the specialty, the format of the book has been thoroughly revised to include numerous tables, figures, algorithms, case histories, and key points to ensure that it will prove an invaluable, practical guide to oncology for all health care professionals involved in the care of patients with malignant disease. It provides a comprehensive overview of the management of malignant disease from the perspective of palliative medicine. The pathology, diagnosis, and management of individual tumour sites are described, with an emphasis on the symptoms produced in advanced disease and the place of oncological treatment in their management. Introductory chapters present the principles of oncological management, and later chapters address specific symptoms from the viewpoint of their pathophysiology and management. Each chapter is enhanced by typical case histories and patient journeys. Less

Oral Care in Advanced Disease

Andrew Davies, Ilora Finlay (eds)

Lesions of the oral cavity have an enormous impact on the quality of life of patients with advanced disease. They cause considerable morbidity and diminish a patient's physical and ... More

Lesions of the oral cavity have an enormous impact on the quality of life of patients with advanced disease. They cause considerable morbidity and diminish a patient's physical and psychological well being. Oral complications impair oral nutrition and can cause a variety of problems including malnutrition, anorexia, and cachexia. Psychological problems relate to the role that the oral cavity plays in communication and social life. This book provides comprehensive, clinically relevant, evidence-based guidelines on oral problems to ensure first-rate care. The scientific foundations and research base for their management underpin the discussion throughout. A multi-disciplinary group of contributors provide authoritative guidelines on clinical features, investigations, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, as well as complementary therapies. Chapters cover oral assessment, hygiene, domiciliary dental care, infections, taste disturbance, pain, HIV infection and AIDS, neurological diseases, and paediatric problems. Less

Palliative Care Consultations in Advanced Breast Cancer

Helena Earl

Sara Booth (ed.)

This is the fourth volume in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer ... More

This is the fourth volume in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer sites. In it, the editors bring together palliative care with oncological treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer. The book is presented in a user-friendly handbook format, with the use of tables and algorithms to ensure that it is portable, accessible, and can be read and referred to on, or before going to, the ward, or before a domiciliary visit. Specialists in palliative care and oncology settings, working in the acute sector and in hospices, will find the book useful. It will also appeal to consultants as well as specialist registrars, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners in palliative care and oncology. The Palliative Care Consultations series is primarily aimed at individuals working in an acute hospital cancer centre and/or tertiary referral centre. The books are designed to give the busy clinician advice on clinical problems, both those rarely encountered and those that are very common but difficult. The volumes are site-specific and each encompasses a review of oncological or haemato-oncological management of advanced disease with symptom-control advice. Less

Palliative Care Consultations in Gynaeoncology

Teresa Tate

Sara Booth, Eduardo Bruera (eds)

This is the second book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer ... More

This is the second book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer sites. In gynaeoncology there are a number of symptoms that cause great distress to the individual and their families, and perplexity to the physicians and nurses caring for them. This book covers the management of incurable disease for each of the most common cancers, and also includes a review of the most difficult symptoms that are encountered in this tumour group. Contributors provide a scientific background to symptom-control chapters, with an indication of the sources and evidence for their advice. Less

Palliative Care Consultations in Haemato-oncology

Jenny Craig

Sara Booth, Eduardo Bruera (eds)

This book is the first volume in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific ... More

This book is the first volume in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer sites. Patients with haematological malignancy often undergo the most rigorous treatments, usually requiring long inpatient stays at tertiary referral centres far removed from friends, families, and everyday life. The treatment for some malignancies is palliative, although aggressive, from diagnosis, and there can be a number of difficult symptom-control problems, all of which are covered here. The book draws on the expertise of the haematologist, who is vital if the patient is to have optimal care, and provides practical advice in an easily accessible form so that it can be read and referred to on the ward, or before a domiciliary visit. Less

Palliative Care Consultations in Head and Neck Cancer

Sara Booth, Andrew Davies (eds)

This is the fifth book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer ... More

This is the fifth book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical, clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer sites. In it, the editors bring together palliative care and oncological treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer is one of the most frightening and distressing cancers for patients and their families as it affects appearance, the ability to speak, and the ability to eat. Pain, which is difficult to treat, infection, and disfiguring surgery with wounds that often do not heal, are common accompaniments of advanced disease. In addition, psychological distress, loneliness, and isolation are often experienced by patients. Head and neck cancer is not that common but, when it does occur, it very often needs specialist help from palliative care and hospice clinicians. There is little written on this subject and this book provides a practical guide that draws together all the information in an easily accessible format. The Palliative Care Consultations series is primarily aimed at those individuals working in an acute hospital cancer centre and/or tertiary referral centre. The books are designed to give the busy clinician advice on clinical problems, both those rarely encountered and those that are very common but difficult. Less

Palliative Care Consultations in Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumours

David Oliver

Sara Booth, Eduardo Bruera (eds)

This is the third book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer ... More

This is the third book in an international, multi-contributed series aimed at providing practical clinical guidance on how to deal with difficult symptoms related to specific cancer sites. There are few more distressing problems for patients and families than the development of a primary or secondary brain tumour. Treatment is often palliative, though intensive, from the start. Little firm evidence exists to guide the physician in caring for patients with seizures refractory to standard treatment. Most of the work is based on case reports or personal experience. The book draws the information together in an accessible form so that it can be read and referred to on the ward, or before a domiciliary visit. Specialists in palliative care and oncology settings, working in the acute sector and in hospices, will find this book useful. It will also appeal to consultants as well as specialist registrars, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners in palliative care, oncology, and neurology. Less

Palliative Care Ethics: A Companion for All Specialties

Fiona Randall, Robin Downie

A book for nurses, doctors, and all who provide end-of-life care, this volume guides readers through the ethical complexities of such care, including policy initiatives, and encourages ... More

A book for nurses, doctors, and all who provide end-of-life care, this volume guides readers through the ethical complexities of such care, including policy initiatives, and encourages debate and discussion on their controversial aspects. Divided into two parts, it introduces and explains clinical decision-making processes about which there is broad consensus, in line with guidance documents issued by the WHO, the BMA, the GMC, and similar bodies. The changing political and social context, where ‘patient choice’ has become a central idea, and the broadened scope of patients' best interests have added to the complexity of decision making in end-of-life care. The authors discuss issues widely encountered by GPs, nurses, and hospital clinicians, which include patient choice; consent; life-prolonging treatment; and symptom relief, including sedation. Part Two explores the more controversial current end-of-life care initiatives, such as advance care planning, preferred place of care and death, euthanasia and assisted suicide, extended ideas of ‘best interests’, and the view that there are therapeutic duties to the relatives of patients. Throughout their discussion the authors draw attention to loose ends and contradictions in some of the proposals. Examining the current policy of consumerist choice, they reject its place in the health service, proposing a realistic, fair, humane and widely adoptable system of end-of-life care. Less

Palliative Care for Non-cancer Patients

Julia Addington-Hall, Irene Higginson (eds)

The specialty of palliative care has traditionally grown out of oncology and there has been little research into the needs of patients dying from causes other than cancer. Few non-cancer ... More

The specialty of palliative care has traditionally grown out of oncology and there has been little research into the needs of patients dying from causes other than cancer. Few non-cancer patients receive hospice in-patient, home care, or day care although a good proportion of hospices say that their services are available to non-cancer patients. As a result, the importance of palliative care for non-cancer patients is now being increasingly recognized internationally, and in the UK a committee reporting to the Department of Health recommended that palliative care should be accessible to all patients who need such care. This book considers the needs and experiences of patients dying from, for example, stroke, heart disease, or dementia by drawing on a range of disciplines and specialties in medicine. The provision of palliative care for patients dying from causes other than cancer raises a number of important questions for policy makers and purchasers. This book summarizes what is known about the needs of and appropriate service provision for people dying of causes other than cancer and begins to set a research agenda. Less