Literature Review

[UK] Efficacy of music-based intervention for people living with dementia in an inpatient setting: A pilot studyJournal of Alzheimer's Disease; Neha Abeywickrama, Mel N Ellul Miraval, Hari Subramaniam, Qadeer Arshad, Stephanie Pollard, Geeta Chauhan, Shifa Jussab, Elizabeta B Mukaetova-Ladinska; 1/25Pharmacological treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia is of limited benefit. The addition of non-pharmacological interventions is often essential for optimal symptom control. Clinical professionals can successfully deliver music-based intervention to inpatients with advanced dementia to help manage their behavioral symptoms in the short term. Music-based interventions' use for inpatient wards must be further investigated as an economical and personalized non-pharmacological therapeutic tool for patients with dementia.

[UK] Campaign focuses on hospice's work: [This is Hospice Care] The Free Library; by Sam Volpe; 2/17/25 Tyneside Hospice is taking part in a new national campaign highlighting their "vital role" - while one son has paid tribute to the care his mother received in her final days. St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle is one of more than 140 hospices taking part in a new campaign called "This is Hospice Care" which is designed to demystify the role hospices play in our communities. [England, Scotland and Wales] Click here for "This is Hospice Care | UK," on the St. Oswald's Hospice website.

An interview with Clinical Psychologist (retired) Johanne de Montigny, M.A.Ps. ehospice; interview between Dr. Stefanie Gingras and Johnne de Montigny; 2/14/25 Ahead of her February 19, 2025 lecture entitled “What I’ve learned about accompaniment, death and bereavement: 29 years of psychological services at the heart of an MUHC care team (1986-2015)”, part of the McGill National Grand Rounds programme, Johanne de Montigny shared her thoughts with Program Director and palliative care physician Dr. Stéfanie Gingras.Dr. Stéfanie Gingras (SG): How did you first become interested in the field of palliative care?Johanne de Montigny (JdM): It was a very profound and sudden experience where I almost died that guided me in this choice. I survived a plane crash, in which 17 people (out of 24) died. After this event, I asked myself what I was going to do with my life. For me, that meant choosing a profession that would be meaningful. After returning to school to study psychology, I chose to become a palliative care psychologist. After being confronted with sudden death, I wanted to understand how people reacted when they learned that they were going to die, that they still had time, and how to live with it. ... In those moments, I remembered that before I died – because I thought I was going to die – the young flight attendant who, in the space of a minute before the crash, had managed to help us contain the shock and give us some hope. She told us, “Whatever happens, we’re together and we’re going to get through this together.” That one relational minute made all the difference. It enabled us, I believe, to survive psychically before dying physically. She was my first carer just before she died. ... As for the family, what was most striking for me was the realization that the end of life is a time of unparalleled intimacy. Editor's note: This rich life-reflection provides powerful insights in light of many recent plane tragedies.

[Germany] Green hospice snails: Dresden bakeries support incurable children Archynewsy; 1/10/25 In Dresden, Germany, a heartwarming campaign is uniting bakeries and communities to support families facing the challenges of life-limiting illnesses in their children. Every February 10th, known as the "Day of Work for the Hospice for Children," participating bakeries offer delectable "green" treats, with a portion of their proceeds contributing to the invaluable work done by local children’s hospices. ... This campaign transcends mere fundraising; it acts as a powerful platform to shed light on the often-overlooked needs of families navigating the complex journey of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness.

Kate Middleton fingerpaints with children from hospice during royal visit[UK] Independent; by Barney Davis; 1/30/25The Princess of Wales laughed as she played with terminal children at a “lifeline” hospice. Kate Middleton joked about her “huge” hands as she left her print on the wall of the Ty Hafan children’s hospice in South Wales on Thursday. The future Queen, who confirmed earlier this month she is in remission from cancer, has become patron of the hospice as she continues her gradual return to public duties.

Truth-telling, and ethical considerations in terminal care: an Eastern perspectiveNursing Ethics; Qing Ma; Yi Wu; Ronghua Fang; 1/25 Truth-telling for terminally ill patients is a challenging ethical and social issue for Chinese health care professionals. However, despite the existence of ethical and moral standards for nurses, they frequently encounter moral dilemmas when making decisions about truth-telling to patients with end-stage diseases in China. This article focuses on nursing morality, ethics, norms, and philosophy in health care and discusses countermeasures taken by nurses in truth-telling decision-making in combination with Chinese Confucian culture. The analysis identifies key ethical strategies tailored to Chinese nurses’ practices, emphasizing individual autonomy, cultural sensitivity, and family dynamics in truth-telling decisions.

Requests for medical assistance in dying by young Dutch people with psychiatric disordersJAMA Psychiatry; Lizanne J.S. Schweren, PhD; Sanne P.A. Rasing, PhD; Monique Kammeraat, BSc; Leah A. Middelkoop, MSc; Ruthie Werner, MSc; Saskia Y.M. Mérelle, PhD; Julian M. Garcia, MD; Daan H.M. Creemers, PhD; Sisco M.P. van Veen, MD, PhD; 1/25This cohort study found that the number of young psychiatric patients in the Netherlands who requested MAID-PS [medical assistance in dying based on psychiatric suffering] increased between 2012 and 2021 and that applications were retracted or rejected for most. Those who died by MAID or suicide were mostly female and had long treatment histories and prominent suicidality. These findings suggest that there is an urgent need for more knowledge about persistent death wishes and effective suicide prevention strategies for this high-risk group.

[The Netherlands] Family concerns in organ donor conversations: A qualitative embedded multiple-case studyCritical Care; Sanne P C van Oosterhout, Anneke G van der Niet, Wilson F Abdo, Marianne Boenink, Jelle L P van Gurp, Gert Olthuis; 12/24Listening and responding to family concerns in organ and tissue donation is generally considered important, but has never been researched in real time. [This study found that] concerns clustered around six topics: 1) Life-event of a relative's death, 2) Dying well, 3) Tensions and fears about donation, 4) Experiences of time, 5) Procedural clarity, and 6) Involving (non-)present family. When concerns were highly charged with emotion, the clinicians' responses were less frequently attuned to families' needs. The identified concerns and the distinction between clearly and less clearly articulated concerns may prove valuable for clinicians to improve family support. We advise clinicians to engage with a curious, probing attitude to enhance the dialogue around concerns, elaborate on less clearly articulated concerns and identify the informational needs of the family.

Uruguay’s iconic ex-President Jose Mujica says his cancer has spread and that he’s dying Associated Press - World News, Santiago, Chile; by Nayara Batschke; 1/9/25 ... “Honestly, I am dying,” said the former leader, who governed the small South American nation of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. The article noted that he had tears in his eyes. “What I ask is that they leave me alone. Don’t ask me for more interviews or anything else,” he said. “My cycle is over.” ... In the interview with Busqueda, Mujica said his autoimmune disease, severe kidney disease and other underlying medical problems led to his decision not to pursue treatment after medical tests showed his cancer had returned and metastasized. “I’m an old man, and because I have two chronic illnesses my body cannot handle it,” he said. ... Mujica told Busqueda that he would devote his “final stage” of life to his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, the capital, where he has grown chrysanthemums with his wife for decades.Editor's note: Whatever one's political stances, may we see and hear the unifying, universal inevitabilities of facing dying and death.

[France] Requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide when it is illegal: A qualitative study about relatives' experiences of patients hospitalized in French palliative care unitsPalliative Care and Social Practice; Camille De Cock, Florence Mathieu-Nicot, Hélène Trimaille, Mathilde Giffard, Aline Chassagne; 12/24Requests for euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are generally understood by relatives. However, receiving and discussing such requests is a challenging and emotionally demanding task, generating significant suffering. All relatives seem to experience some degree of suffering, although its expression varies greatly between individuals. We encourage healthcare professionals to identify the nature of this suffering and to invite patients and their relatives to openly discuss these issues and to proactively address the request.

[China] Family members' experiences of surrogate decision-making in hospice care: A systematic review of qualitative studiesInternational Journal of Nursing Studies; Ting Yu, Yijing Li, Ziyi Hu, Shanshan Liu, Cong Wang, Qian Chen, Yan Jiang; 12/24Determining whether patients receive hospice care at end of life is complex for family members. This process begins with the coexistence of rational and emotional motives for decision-making, involves preparation for decision-making through the acquisition of knowledge and experience about hospice care, and culminates in reflection on the entire decision-making process. These findings underscore the importance of providing sufficient informational and emotional support to family decision-makers, which can improve decision-making and promote more compassionate end-of-life care. Future research should focus on developing effective strategies to strengthen these support systems.

[Wales] Inside a children's hospice, a life-affirming and laughter-filled place that offers so much WalesOnline; by Taite Johnson; 12/29/24 When most people think of a children's hospice they often expect it to be a sombre place filled with sadness. But after spending some time at Ty Hafan I found it's actually quite the opposite. Laughter fills the halls as families make everlasting memories for themselves – and potentially the last for their child. Ty Hafan's hospice, overlooking the serene view of the sea in Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been providing essential end-of-life care for children in a safe space in Wales for 25 years. It is often described at a place you wish you didn't need but you are glad to have.

[India] Mechanisms and clinical applications of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in the treatment of neuropathic painInflammopharmacology; Ardra Das, Preetha Balakrishnan; 12/24Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is emerging as a promising therapeutic agent for neuropathic and other pain-related conditions. PEA's interaction with endocannabinoid receptors decreases the inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production and thereby a descending pain sensation. Experimental evidence shows that PEA not only reduces pain and inflammation but also lowers the need for higher dosages of other drugs hence minimizing the risk of drug toxicity. The bioavailability of PEA has been enhanced by recent technological developments, which emphasize continuous research efforts to maximize PEA's therapeutic potential in pain treatment and associated medical sectors.