End-of-Life Care

This collection features AFP content deemed current by the AFP online medical editor on end-of-life care and related issues, including advance directives, hospice care, legal and ethical issues, nursing home care, palliative care, and terminal illness. New research may affect the interpretation and application of this material. Clinical judgment is advised. Note that AFP content published within the past 12 months is accessible to AAFP members and paid subscribers only.

Last Update: 11/29/2012

Overview Advanced Directives Hospice Care Symptom Management Editorials and Letters

Improving Practice Patient Education, Self-Care Other AFP Content Other Resources from AAFP

Overview

• End-of-Life Care: Guidelines for Patient-Centered Communication (01/15/2008)
• Cultural Diversity at the End of Life: Issues and Guidelines for Family Physicians (02/01/2005)

Advanced Directives

• Implementing Advance Directives in Office Practice (03/01/2012)
• Respecting End-of-Life Treatment Preferences (10/01/2005)

Hospice Care

• Hospice: A Mother's Story [Close-ups] (12/01/2012)
• The Role of the Family Physician in the Referral and Management of Hospice Patients (03/15/2008)
• Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment (10/01/2000)
• Hospice Care in the Nursing Home (02/01/1998)

Symptom Management

• Managing Grief and Depression at the End of Life (08/01/2012)
• Management of Constipation in Patients Receiving Palliative Care [Cochrane for Clinicians] (12/01/2011)
• Delirium at the End of Life [Clinical Evidence Handbook] (05/15/2010)
• Pharmacologic Pearls for End-of-Life Care (06/15/2009)
• ACP Releases Recommendations for Palliative Care at the End of Life [Practice Guidelines] (11/01/2008)
• Guidelines for Delivering Quality Palliative Care [Practice Guidelines] (03/15/2006)
• Challenges in Pain Management at the End of Life (10/01/2001)
• Management of Common Symptoms in Terminally Ill Patients: Part I. Fatigue, Anorexia, Cachexia, Nausea and Vomiting (09/01/2001)
• Management of Common Symptoms in Terminally Ill Patients: Part II. Constipation, Delirium and Dyspnea (09/15/2001)
• Managing Pain in the Dying Patient (02/01/2000)

Editorials and Letters

• Differentiating Grief and Depression in Patients Who Are Seriously Ill [Editorials] (08/01/2012)
• Use of Hospice Care for Patients Without Cancer [Editorials] (11/15/2010)

Improving Practice

From Family Practice Management

AAFP's Journal of Practice Improvement

• Discussing End-of-Life Care With Your Patients (03/01/2008)

Patient Education, Self-Care

• Treatment of Grief and Depression at the End of Life (08/01/2012)
• What You Should Know About Advanced Directives (03/01/2012)
• Care for People with a Severe or Compicated Illness (06/15/2009)
• Hospice: What You Should Know (03/15/2008)
• Advance Directives (10/01/2005)
• End-of-Life Choices for Families (08/15/2004)
• Dying and Preparatory Grief (03/01/2002)
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (10/01/2000)
• Artificial Fluids and Nutrition (10/01/2000)

From FamilyDoctor.org

AAFP's Consumer Education Resource

• Advance Directives and Do Not Resuscitate Orders
• Artificial Hydration
• Artificial Hydration and Nutrition
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Hospice Care
• Cancer: End-of-Life Issues for the Caregiver
• Autopsy

Other AFP Content

• Palliative Sedation for a Patient with Terminal Illness [Curbside Consultation] (05/01/2011)
• Ethical Considerations of Patients with Pacemakers [Curbside Consultation] (08/01/2008)
• Determining Prognosis for Patients with Terminal Cancer [Point-of-Care Guides] (08/15/2005)
• Completing and Signing the Death Certificate [Curbside Consultation] (11/01/2004)
• Do I Have to Resuscitate This Patient Against Her Wishes? [Curbside Consultation] (05/01/2003)
• A Daughter Estranged from Her Dying Father [Curbside Consultation] (12/01/2000)

TIPS FROM OTHER JOURNALS

• The Legal Myths and Realities of End-of-Life Care (05/01/2001)

Other Resources from AAFP

AAFP Policy Statements

• Ethics and Advance Planning for End-of-Life Care