How do nursing home doctors involve patients and next of kin in end-of-life decisions? A qualitative study from Norway

BMC Medical Ethics
Maria RomørenReidun Førde

Abstract

Ethically challenging critical events and decisions are common in nursing homes. This paper presents nursing home doctors' descriptions of how they include the patient and next of kin in end-of-life decisions. We performed ten focus groups with 30 nursing home doctors. Advance care planning; aspects of decisions on life-prolonging treatment, and conflict with next of kin were subject to in-depth analysis and condensation. The doctors described large variations in attitudes and practices in all aspects of end-of-life decisions. In conflict situations, many doctors were more concerned about the opinion of next of kin than ensuring the patient's best interest. Many end-of-life decisions appear arbitrary or influenced by factors independent of the individual patient's values and interests and are not based on systematic ethical reflections. To protect patient autonomy in nursing homes, stronger emphasis on legal and ethical knowledge among nursing home doctors is needed.

References

Jun 5, 2007·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Karen HancockMartin H N Tattersall
Jan 25, 2008·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·Bunota Menezes, George Tadros
Feb 3, 2011·Nursing Ethics·Elisabeth GjerbergArild Bjørndal
May 28, 2011·BMC Health Services Research·Birgitte GraverholtMonica W Nortvedt
Oct 25, 2013·The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners·Tim SharpStephen Barclay

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 24, 2017·Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række·Elisabeth GjerbergReidun Førde
Nov 25, 2020·Journal of Advanced Nursing·Trygve J L SaevareidLisbeth Thoresen
Aug 3, 2021·BMC Health Services Research·Trygve Johannes L SævareidMorten Magelssen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Medical Journal of Australia
William Silvester, Karen Detering
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
John E Morley
Journal of Palliative Medicine
Debra Parker Oliver
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved