The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Apr 2009
The Japan HOspice and Palliative Care Evaluation Study (J-HOPE Study): views about legalization of death with dignity and euthanasia among the bereaved whose family member died at palliative care units.
There has been a debate in appropriateness of legalization of death with dignity and euthanasia in Japan. To clarify views about these issues, we conducted a large nationwide study of the bereaved whose family member died at palliative care units. ⋯ In conclusion, views about legalization of death with dignity and euthanasia among the bereaved are inconsistent. No consensus is reached as to legislation of these issues.
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The Institute of Medicine has described the "death-denying character of American society'' and surely, there is an opportunity to change this character. Despite our understandable concern with costs, end-of-life care options must be variously considered from economic, ethical, and legislative perspectives. ⋯ Society must be educated to understand that death can be peaceful and that end-of-life planning and care is an integral part of society's continuum of care. Enabling affordability, expanding availability, and ensuring access are the only ways of realizing that outcome.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Apr 2009
ReviewAssessing caregivers for team interventions (ACT): a new paradigm for comprehensive hospice quality care.
This article provides a framework labeled ACT that aims to successfully integrate family caregivers and patients into one unit of care, as dictated by the hospice philosophy. ACT (assessing caregivers for team interventions) is based on the ongoing assessment of the caregiver background context, primary, secondary, and intrapsychic stressors as well as outcomes of the caregiving experience and subsequently, the design and delivery of appropriate interventions to be delivered by the hospice interdisciplinary team. Interventions have to be tailored to a caregiver's individual needs; such a comprehensive needs assessment allows teams to customize interventions recognizing that most needs and challenges cannot be met by only one health care professional or only one discipline. The proposed model ensures a holistic approach to address the multifaceted challenges of the caregiving experience.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Apr 2009
Review Comparative StudyLegal issues in end-of-life care: perspectives from Saudi Arabia and United States.
This paper provides different perspectives on end-of-life legal issues in Saudi Arabia, and contrasts those perspectives with current legal practice in the United States. ⋯ There are many differences, and some commonalities between the laws practiced in both countries which help explain medical and nursing practice at the end of life.