Improving care at the end of life: how advance care planning can help

Palliat Support Care. 2004 Jun;2(2):191-7. doi: 10.1017/s1478951504040258.

Abstract

Based on a comparison of studies of patient desires regarding end-of-life care and of the actual course of end-of-life care, this article concludes that there is a significant discrepancy in the United States between the kind of care most people want and the kind of care they in fact receive. The article offers a case example to illustrate one type of dilemma commonly encountered in end-of-life care. It then introduces and describes the practice of advance care planning. Use of advance care planning, it is argued, can prevent moral dilemmas and improve end-of-life care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Advance Care Planning*
  • Decision Making
  • Humans
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Patient Participation