Literature Review

Medical aid in dying: Bridging ethical guidance and bedside communication in nursing practiceJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Jeanna Ford, Phyllis Whitehead; 7/26As MAiD [Medical aid in dying] becomes more integrated into serious illness care, nurses, particularly those in hospice and palliative care, are increasingly the first clinicians to receive patient questions about this option. These inquiries are often embedded in broader concerns related to suffering, loss of autonomy, fear of prolonged dying, and desire for control rather than solely requests for hastened death. The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association’s recent position statement on medical aid in dying emphasizes compassionate, nonjudgmental care, respect for autonomy, professional integrity, and the ethical obligation of nonabandonment while recognizing the complexities of conscientious objection. This manuscript examines the evolving legal and ethical landscape of MAiD, explores the professional implications for nursing practice, and introduces the EXPLORE (Elicit, Explore, Probe Suffering, Learn Values, Observe Pressures, Review Support, Evaluate Next Steps) communication framework, a practice-based model developed to provide nurses with a structured, evidence-informed approach for responding to patient-initiated MAiD discussions. 

[Portugal] Ketamine for cancer-related pain in palliative care: A systematic review of clinical use and safetyJournal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy; by Catarina Vitorino-Afonso, Paulo Reis-Pina; 7/26Ketamine has emerged as an adjuvant for opioid-refractory cancer-related pain in palliative care, but evidence remains limited. [This study found that] ketamine was used mainly as an adjuvant. Many reports described reduced pain and/or lower opioid use, although certainty was very low and attribution was limited by polypharmacy and regimen changes. Intravenous infusions were most common, but subcutaneous, oral, and intranasal routes were also used. Intranasal ketamine showed pragmatic utility for breakthrough pain, while oral ketamine was described in ambulatory palliative care settings.

Saturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!

Where hospice fails us: A qualitative study of facilitators and barriers in transitions to hospice according to palliative care cliniciansJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Morgan M Nakatani, Julia G Cohn, Kris W Herring, Thomas W LeBlanc; 7/26Transitions to hospice are challenging for patients, caregivers, and health care teams, yet few studies have examined gaps in care from the perspectives of referring palliative care (PC) clinicians. PC clinicians identify substantial barriers to hospice transitions, underscoring the need to improve access to comprehensive end-of-life care. Clinicians emphasized the value of hospice and the Medicare benefit, while identifying barriers to hospice transitions [including] ... inadequate caregiving support, limited reimbursement, uncertainty around eligibility and prognostication, and differences between for-profit and non-profit hospice agencies. These barriers contributed to inequitable access to hospice and gaps in care.

Palliative care with guided open communication improves patients’ well-being Oncology Nurse Advisor; by Jessica Nye, PhD; 8/13/26 Guided open communication in the palliative care setting had beneficial effects on patients with advanced lung cancer, according to findings published in Frontiers in Public Health. ... A total of 276 patients were evaluated for outcomes using a battery of validated instruments. ... The study investigators concluded, “[I]ntegrating guided honesty intervention and palliative care into a comprehensive nursing model can significantly alleviate negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with advanced lung cancer, effectively reduce cancer pain and cancer-related fatigue, and significantly improve nursing satisfaction while enhancing patients’ quality of life in multiple dimensions.”

Treasure Coast Hospice launches new website to make hospice referrals easier for families and healthcare providers Cision PRWeb, Stuart, FL; by Treasure Coast Hospice; 8/11/26 Treasure Coast Hospice has launched a newly redesigned website featuring an enhanced online referral experience that makes it easier for healthcare providers, patients, and families to connect with hospice care. The new website was developed to remove common barriers people may face when searching for hospice information and to make the referral process more accessible, efficient, and easy to understand. ... One of the most significant updates is a new online referral form with two distinct pathways: one for healthcare professionals and another for patients and loved ones.

Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare celebrates 23 years ithaca.com, Ithaca, NY; by Grant Terwilliger; 8/11/26 On the morning of Aug. 8, 330 women swam 1.2 miles from Camp Comstock to Myers Park to support Hospicare services. The swimmers participated in groups and were accompanied by paddlers in kayaks. Go the Distance fundraisers, swimmers, volunteers and spectators raised $663, 940 for Hospicare through 6,000 donations, according to the Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare website. ... “Twenty three years ago, two powerful, determined women decided to swim across the lake for the first time to celebrate a 60 birthday and raise money for hospice care,” said Emily Hopkins, director of development and community relations for Hospicare. “Fast forward to today, swimming in their wake, we have swimmers ages 18 to 82 who swam across the lake today.”  

Deactivation of cardiac devices at the end of life: clinical and ethical challenges Current Heart Failure Reports; by Marie-Gabrielle Courtès, Fiona Ecarnot, Mathilde Giffard; 8/13/26 Device deactivation in patients with heart failure is an increasingly relevant clinical and ethical challenge as the use of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices expands. ... Deactivating implantable cardioverter defibrillators can prevent painful and unnecessary shocks at the end of life, which may otherwise prolong dying without improving quality of life. Multidisciplinary involvement, including palliative care consultation, is essential to support patient-centered decision-making and symptom management. This review synthesizes the latest evidence and consensus on device deactivation in heart failure, emphasizing the need for communication, initiated early in the disease course, as well as individualized care, and integration of patient preferences throughout the disease trajectory.Editor's Note: What Policies and Procedures does your organization have in place? What interdisciplinary education do you ensure for all IDG members regarding this challenge for patients, families, and legal representatives? This clinical and ethical challenges presents potentially horrific trauma for the patient and those present when the person is actively dying and dies. Clincial and legal knowledge, preparations, and communications, and documentation are crucial.

No matter how old you are or how far you travel, we will always be your parents, and we will always be thankful we got to know you before anyone else did. ~ Denise Springer[Sending support to all readers who are launching a child into college or another new life chapter. ~ Hospice & Palliative Care Today, Joy Berger]

My husband was kicked out of hospice for dying too slowly. Here's what I learned about navigating hospice care. CBS News; by Kim Clark; 8/13/26 It was mid-January 2026, and my then-73-year-old husband, Mike Salmon, had just started bouncing back from a three-month ordeal of three operations related to aortic aneurysms, sepsis, and a terrifying descent into delirium tied to a stay in the intensive care unit. ... Abruptly, we were shunted onto hospice care — the dead-end spur of the American medical system. ... Mike joined that select group. His experience in and out of the hospice system revealed surprising lessons about how families can manage care. And getting removed from hospice revealed a little-known process that can represent a welcome respite for families like ours — but can be devastating for patients with serious chronic illnesses. Here's what we learned in our four months on and off hospice. ...  

Key trends and implications in healthcare AI adoption FTI Consulting; 8/11/26... In partnership with Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (“HIMSS”), FTI Consulting conducted a detailed assessment of health system perspectives1 and AI utilization to better understand how organizations are navigating this rapidly evolving landscape and where meaningful value is actually being realized. ... Figure 1: Three-Quarters of Healthcare Leaders Believe AI Will Fundamentally Change Care Delivery in the Next Few Years; Many Also Believe AI Has the Potential To Materially Reduce the Costs of Delivering Healthcare. ...Figure 2: What Are the Most Important Objectives Driving Your Organization’s Investments in Artificial Intelligence Technologies? ...Figure 3: Thinking About the Areas in Which Your Organization Has Implemented AI, Which Have Delivered the Strongest Results in Helping You Achieve Each of the Following Objectives? ... Figure 4: Example Value Prioritization Framework for AI Implementation in Healthcare Source: FTI Consulting ...