Literature Review

Ohio nurses help hospice patients navigate end-of-life decisions Public News Service; by Nadia Ramlagan; 5/15/26 On the heels of National Nurses Week, hospice nurses are raising awareness about access to compassionate end-of-life care and medical decisions in the Black community. ... Ottamissiah "Missy" Moore, a longtime hospice nurse and member of the African American Leadership Council for Compassion & Choices, said her personal experience relying on hospice care showed her how important it can be for families. ... A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found around 34% of Black study participants died while using hospice services compared to more than 46% of their white counterparts. Moore added the disparity echoes other racial inequities in health care, such as nonwhite people being less likely to receive pain medications and higher rates of maternal mortality. 

How do physicians perceive and manage the influence of their personal end-of-life preferences on clinical practice and end-of-life decision-making with patients? An international qualitative study  Health and Medicine Daily | Palliative Care and Social Practice; research portion by Sarah Mroz, Frederick Daenen, and Kenneth Chambaere; 5/5/26 ... Physicians acknowledge the impact of their personal end-of-life preferences on their clinical practice and emphasize the importance of maintaining objectivity and centering decision-making on patient preferences. Physicians adopt strategies to mitigate potential biases. There is a divergence of opinion about whether it is appropriate to share when asked what they would do in the position of their patients. Most believe focusing on patients' values and priorities is essential and others feel sharing is crucial to maintain trust. Physicians struggle with ethical tensions and moral discomfort, particularly when patients' requests conflict with their beliefs. ...

Spokane police arrest hospice caretaker accused of stealing from dying patientsKXLY.com, Spokane, WA; by Kirstin O'Connor; 4/29/26 Spokane police arrested a hospice facility caregiver Wednesday on charges she stole debit cards from dying patients and their visiting family members to buy lottery tickets. Leena Anderson faces charges of second-degree identity theft, possession of stolen property and money laundering in connection with thefts at an unnamed Spokane hospice facility. The Spokane Police Special Investigations Unit launched the investigation several weeks ago after learning of several related thefts from victims at the hospice facility. Investigators determined Anderson was the only employee working during the time frame when all three thefts happened.

Nearly 40% of physicians report high moral distress, which significantly increases burnout Healio; by Josh Friedman; 4/21/26 An AMA survey of more than 9,000 individuals showed nearly 40% of physicians report high levels of moral distress, yet most U.S. adults experience none at their occupation. Physicians who reported high levels of moral distress had a significantly higher likelihood of burnout symptoms and intent to leave the profession. “Physicians want to do what they believe is right for patients. That’s what we want all health care professionals to do, prioritize patient care,” Michael A. Tutty, PhD, MHA, group vice president of professional satisfaction and practice sustainability at AMA, told Healio. “Leaders need to think about how we can reduce or eliminate those ethical challenges that make it harder for physicians to provide high-quality patient care.”

Older adults and volunteerism: a vital social justice issue Nonprofit Quarterly; by Jan Masaoka; 4/20/26 In this series, The Unexpected Value of Volunteers, author Jan Masaoka takes on the underappreciated topic of volunteerism and provides some unexpected ideas about the role that volunteers can play in building nonprofit reach, impact, and capacity. ... Indeed, senior volunteerism exposes a deep problem with how organizations and society at large view older adults. Seniors are routinely cast as people to be helped instead of people who help.Editor's Note: This article names a quiet paradox especially relevant to hospice: older adults are often seen as recipients of care, yet they are essential to delivering it through volunteer service. When we treat volunteer roles as a Medicare requirement to fulfill, we risk missing the deeper truth. Older adult volunteers bring lived wisdom, presence, and purpose—helping us shape care in ways that truly matter.

Sovereign Hospice: addressing late-stage renal condition care gaps in Fort Worth MyCarrollCountyNews.com, Dallas, TX; by Sovereign Hospice; 4/16/26 End-stage kidney disease affects hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. When kidneys can no longer sustain life without dialysis or a transplant, families are left to make decisions that few feel prepared for. Sovereign Hospice ... is drawing attention to a gap many families face: not knowing that hospice care services exist as a legitimate, fully supported option at this stage of illness. ... For patients with end-stage kidney disease, the shift away from aggressive treatment means that symptom management becomes the priority. Common symptoms at this stage include fatigue, pain, restlessness, and fluid retention. The interdisciplinary team is trained to address all of these through individualized care plans.

Arizona lawmakers reject bill to legalize assisted suicide Live Action; by Angeline Tan; 4/13/26 Arizona lawmakers have dismissed a rejuvenated attempt to legalize assisted suicide, dealing a setback to its proponents in the state. House Bill 2569 — also referred to as the Thomas M. Dow Act — did not move forward in the Arizona Legislature this session, and it was not scheduled for a hearing in a House committee. ... In Arizona, concerns about coercion and inadequate oversight contributed to the bill’s defeat. Lawmakers raised questions about how eligibility criteria would be enforced and whether vulnerable individuals could be influenced by family members, financial considerations, or systemic health care inequalities. For over 20 years, Arizona legislators have considered similar measures. 

Managing clinical uncertainty Baylor College of Medicine; by Dr. Avni M. Kapadia and Dr. Hannah L. Kirsch; 4/10/26 In the day-to-day routine of critical care physicians, end-of-life care and medical ethics are frequently incorporated into comprehensive care plans. What happens when the laws impede the ability to honor family wishes? ... Recent ethical debates surrounding the care of brain-dead or severely neurologically injured pregnant patients highlight growing tension between clinical ethics and public policy. These cases are medically complex and emotionally devastating for families. But cases involving pregnancy and severe neurological injury also are especially difficult for the medical team. 

Moral distress and occupational burnout in US physicians JAMA Network; by Michael A. Tutty, PhD, MHA, Colin P. West, MD, PhD, Liselotte N. Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, Hanhan Wang, MPS, Lindsey E. Carlasare, MBA, Christine A. Sinsky, MD, Mickey Trockel, MD, PhD, Tait D. Shanafelt, MD; 3/24/26 Question: What is the level of moral distress and the association between burnout, intent to leave (ITL), and intent to reduce work hours (ITR) among physicians and US workers? Conclusion and Relevance:  In this survey study, moral distress was common among physicians and experienced at higher rates than the general US working population. Understanding the differences between moral distress and burnout may allow organizations to more effectively implement interventions to address both concerns among clinicians. 

Language preference is associated with goals-of-care communication and end-of-life care in dementia Journal of General Internal Medicine; by Lauren R. Pollack MD, MS, Lois Downey MA, Ruth A. Engelberg PhD, James Sibley BS, Linda K. Ko PhD, Kimiko Domoto-Reilly MD, MS, Lyndia C. Brumback PhD, Annie T. Chen PhD & Rashmi K. Sharma MD, MHS; 3/30/26 Background: People with dementia and preferred language other than English (PLOE) in the United States may face communication-related barriers to high-quality end-of-life care.Objective: Compare end-of-life care characteristics among people with dementia and PLOE versus those preferring English. ... [Efforts] to improve end-of-life care for those with PLOE might prioritize ED and hospital-based interventions, recognizing their critical safety-net functions, as well as ensure that people with dementia and PLOE and their families have sufficient cultural and linguistic support to engage in high-quality end-of-life communication with their healthcare providers.Editor's Note: Pair this with today's post, "Neenah pastor finds deeper calling after brother’s hospice journey."

The demoralization of America's doctors Straight Arrow News; by Jess Craig; 3/30/26 Key takeaways:

End-of-life care planning for individuals with special needsJD Supra; by Chamblis, Bahner & Stphel, P.C.; 3/23/26 Takeaways