Journal of palliative medicine
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Donation after cardiac death (DCD) is technique of organ donation that has increased the number of available organs for transplant. This process allows organ donation after declaring death using cardiopulmonary criteria. Concerns exist with quality of symptom control and family support during this process. ⋯ This hospital has a DCD protocol established. The article reviews basic concepts of DCD. It reviews how a palliative care team interacts with other hospital teams to provide expert symptom control and emotional support for families during the DCD process.
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Prehospital emergency providers (emergency medical technicians [EMTs] and paramedics) who respond to emergency calls for patients near the end of life (EOL) make critical decisions in the field about initiating care and transport to an emergency department. ⋯ These study results suggest the need for addressing the potential interrelationship between prehospital and EOL care through improved education and protocols for care in the field.
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End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) have been well documented throughout history and across cultures. The impact of pre-death experiences on dying individuals and their loved ones can be profoundly meaningful. ⋯ ELDVs are commonly experienced phenomena during the dying process, characterized by a consistent sense of realism and marked emotional significance. These dreams/visions may be a profound source of potential meaning and comfort for the dying, and therefore warrant clinical attention and further research.
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Pediatric palliative care is an evolving specialty that aims to improve the lives of children with a life-limiting condition. As an emerging specialty, there is much to be learned about service provision and the expected outcomes that can be achieved. Additionally, quantification of the needs for pediatric palliative care is complicated by the uncertainty of defining the population that requires care. ⋯ The importance of a population-based approach to pediatric palliative care in a state that is geographically large and diverse like Queensland is highlighted. This article may provide valuable information to other health care providers who care for children with life-limiting illnesses.