Wishes and Needs at the End-of-Life

According to the National Library of Medicine and this article states that making sure a patient's wishes are respected is crucial and by doing so, it can relieve the dying of unnecessary burdens.

"Most patients want frank information from their physicians about their condition at all times over the course of their treatment, from the moment of diagnosis to the end of their life. This has no lasting adverse effects, but rather enables patients to take decisions that are appropriate to their stage of disease".

"Patients should be enabled to issue directives that reflect their wishes, as well as to choose representatives who are allowed to speak for them. Consideration should also be given to the patient’s emotional legacy, e.g., letters or video messages with personal content".

"In principle, it is always an important matter to make provisions for one’s own death, to consider the various questions associated with it, and to put one’s thoughts in writing".

"Death is not always brought on by a progressive illness that gives the sufferer the time to deal with the subject thoroughly".

"This article provides an overview of the final matters that must be considered in the last phase of an adult patient’s life. These final matters include everything that ensures the patient’s wishes will be respected up to the moment of death and beyond it, as well as everything that can support the patient’s family as they deal with their loss".

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