Facing Requests for Physician-Assisted Suicide

Article Abstract:

An 8-step plan is presented for physicians to help them deal with requests for physician-assisted suicide. Patients who make such requests should be evaluated for depression and other treatable conditions that could be affecting their mood. Their competence to make decisions should also be tested. Physicians should discuss the goals for care and should evaluate the degree of patient suffering, including physical, mental, social and spiritual. The patient should be given complete information about this option and professional colleagues should be consulted.

Analysis, Assisted suicide

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Ensuring Competency in End-of-Life Care: Communication and Relational Skills

Article Abstract:

A seven-step method is presented for managing end-of-life care and other situations that require good communication between doctor, patient, and family. The seven steps are preparing for the discussion, establishing what the patient and family already know, determining how to present information, delivering the information, responding to the family's emotions, establishing treatment goals, and creating a plan to meet those goals.

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End-of-Life Conversations: Evolving Practice and Theory

Article Abstract:

Living wills and advance directives are just two components of an ongoing process of end-of-life discussions doctors should have with terminally ill patients and their families. Strategies should focus on improving doctors' communication skills, promoting patient-centered care, and focusing on the quality of the remaining months or years of life.

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