Technology, futility and palliative care [Editorial]

Kelly, Daniel M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1847-0655 2005. Technology, futility and palliative care [Editorial]. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 11 (9) , p. 456.

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

I witnessed recently the death of a relative on an acute surgical unit. Diagnosed with bladder cancer 2 years previously, her condition had deteriorated slowly during a trip overseas until she returned home and was admitted immediately to hospital for intravenous rehydration, antibiotics and cardiac monitoring. After 2 days her physical condition was considered to have ‘improved’; however, she was also experiencing pelvic pain that responded to a diamorphine infusion. Attempts were made to arrange transfer to a hospice, but this was not possible and she died soon after with her family at hand. Reflecting on these events prompted questions about the relationship between medical technology and the goals of palliative care to ‘avoid overly interventionist treatments and of offering a range of “low-tech” options to people dying with advanced disease’ (Seymour, 2000).

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Publisher:	Mark Allen Healthcare
ISSN:	1357-6321
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2022 13:19
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/13446

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item