Literature Review

Spread of assisted dying shines spotlight on difficult decisions Financial Times; by Charlotte Middlehurst; 5/22/24 The right to control your death is a principle that societies have debated for centuries. But, as more countries prepare to legalise medically-assisted dying, the reality of allowing the practice is sparking fresh ethical arguments. Some form of assisted dying is now legal in 9 countries, as well as in 11 US states and parts of Australia. [Click on the title's link for data and discussion regarding international policies; concerns about increased "unassisted suicide"; rapid legislative/medical decisions; inducing death; devaluing the lives of disabled persons; ethical choices based on economic factors; doctors' choices; and more.] 

Hike For Hospice surpasses expectations: Brings in over $167k CKXS, 99.1, Chatham-Kent & Lambton County (Southwest Ontario, Canada); 5/7/24 An annual walk in support of end-of-life care in Chatham-Kent has smashed its fundraising record. More than 500 people took part in the eighth annual Hike for Hospice event on Sunday at John McGregor Secondary School and Mud Creek Trail. The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation surpassed its $140,000 fundraising goal, bringing in $167,500 through pledges collected by hikers and sponsors. “It was so touching to see so many people walking together on the trail and all the memorial signs are just a reminder of the impact Hospice has made in our community,” said Event Co-Chair Ginny Hawken in a news release.

Palliative patients can die peacefully at home with paramedic support, claims proposed frameworkRiotack - Australia; by James Day; 5/6/24A proposed national framework suggests paramedics could help ease pressure on emergency departments by supporting palliative care patients who wish to die at home. Published in the leading international peer reviewed journal Palliative Medicine, the framework seeks to embed palliative care into paramedics’ core business and reduce needless transports to hospital. ... Lead author and trained paramedic Dr. Madeleine Juhrmann developed the framework in consultation with paramedics, palliative care doctors, GPs, carers with lived experience and others. The expert group – representing six countries and all the states of Australia – agreed on the framework’s 32 service changes to standardise best practice for paramedics delivering palliative care in community-based settings.Pair this with a USA article in today's newsletter, "Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm." 

Pro-life hospice group launches ‘Do Not Euthanize’ Registry to protect Canadians patients InfoWars / LifeSiteNews; by Anthony Murdoch; 5/6/24 One of  Canada’s only fully pro-life hospices, the Delta Hospice Society (DHS), has launched a new Do Not Euthanize (DNE) National Registry that it says will help “defend” vulnerable citizens’ lives from “premature death by euthanasia.” Angelina Ireland, executive director of the DHS, told LifeSiteNews that the new DNE National Registry is live as of May 1, 2024, with the goal being to have everyone who has already signed, or will sign, a DNE, added to the registry.

Living well to the end: Singapore ramps up palliative and hospice care capacityThe Straits Times; by Joy Teo; 4/26/24 Singapore is increasing its palliative care and hospice capacity to allow more people with life-threatening illnesses to live well till the very end, and die with dignity and comfort. By 2025, there will be 300 inpatient palliative care beds, 140 day hospice places and capacity for palliative home care for 3,600 patients. In Singapore, the term palliative care is often used interchangeably with hospice care, though there are subtle differences.

961 nurses get training on palliative careThe Daily Star - Healthcare; 4/19/24[India:] Palliative Care Society of Bangladesh (PCSB), in collaboration with Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal Limited, provided training to the nurses in two phases held on April 2-4 and April 18-19. ... At present, approximately 800,000 people across Bangladesh, including more than 70,000 children, are in need of palliative care.

Hospice boss warns of funding challenges BBC News, Josh Sandiford; 4/28/24[United Kingdom] A West Midlands hospice boss has warned it faces a "huge challenge" under the current funding model. Acorns Children's Hospice, which is based in Birmingham, told the BBC the situation was not sustainable despite demand for its services growing. It came after Hospice UK said there was a £77m funding deficit at centres across the UK. Editor's Note: We highlighted this recurring theme from United Kingdom in posts on 4/16/24 and 4/17/24 in our "International" section. Pairing this critical, ongoing financial crisis with our article on 4/19/24, "Will Assisted Dying in Europe Impact Living With Dignity?", how might these potential losses of effective hospice care impact patients' desires for assisted dying? What similar trends are we seeing in the United States?

Death is a part of life – so let's talk about itNow Then - A Magazine for Sheffield [UK], by Sam Walby; 4/17/24 The Sheffield Life, Loss and Death Festival takes place this May with a mission to break through taboos, awkwardness and anxiety about death and dying. Here's why it's important. Death is universal. We will all die and we are all likely to experience grief at the loss of loved ones. So why are we so squeamish about talking about it? ... The festival, which comes to Sheffield this May, uses all kinds of event formats and venues to engage people in the topic, from exhibitions and 'death cafes' to music performances and open mics.

Funding boost for crucial hospice care, Welsh Government announces National Health Executive, by Louis Morris; 4/15/24 The Welsh Governmetn has confirmed that 12 hospices in Wales will receive £4million of funding to continue providing crucial care. The funding will help the network of hospices:

Thinking outside the box: eco concerns prompt greener funeral options Positive.News, by Alison McClintock; 4/5/24 Keeping a lid on your carbon footprint doesn’t stop with your last breath. Your choice of funeral can have a significant environmental impact. In a recent report by the US-based National Funeral Directors Association, 60.5% of those surveyed expressed their interest in greener options including resomation (water cremation) human composting and natural burials.  And while the UK’s funeral preferences are currently split 80:20 between cremations and burials, YouGov research finds that almost a third (29%) of people in the UK would choose alternative committal methods if available. 

In the spirit of Ramadan: Diverse access to palliative care Medscape UK, by Dr. Mohammed Sattar; 4/4/24 St. Gemma’s Hospice hosted their first ever Ramadan community iftar in Moortown, Leeds on March 19, with almost 100 guests in attendance. For me, this was a historic moment. This iftar was about creating a sense of community. ... [I've] seen the visionary leadership that is provided by St. Gemma’s senior team, ... taking careful consideration of what hospice and palliative care services should look like in an ever-changing Leeds population. The team members ask themselves some difficult questions about how to become an inclusive service for all and no faiths. The iftar, the sunset meal when Muslims break their daily fast, was a testament to that. ...

Killeigh mother and daughter fundraiser surpasses €10k Offaly Independent, by Geraldine Grennan; 3/28/24 A fundraiser organised by a Killeigh mother and daughter to raise money for the Irish Hospice Foundation has passed the €10,000 mark this week – despite setting an initial target of just €500.Arlene Guilfoyle Beatty from Fenter Lane in Killeigh embarked on the challenge of walking 100 miles for the month of March in memory of her beloved husband Donal, who was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of lymphoma in August 2021 and passed away seven months later. Editor's Note: €10,000 = over $16,625 US dollars

Eye donation in palliative and hospice care settings: Patient views and experiencesBMJ Open Ophthalmology, by Tracy Long-Sutehall, Mike Bracher, Banyana Cecile Madi-Segwagwe, Michelle Myall, Adam Hurlow, Professor Christina Faull, Clare Rayment, Jane Wale, Sarah Mollart, Jill Short, Erika Lipscombe, Emma Winstanley; 11/22There is a global shortage of donated eye tissue for use in sight saving and sight restoring operations such as corneal transplantation. ... Patients who die in palliative and hospice care settings could potentially donate eye tissue, however, the option of eye donation is not routinely raised in end-of-life planning discussions. ... It is imperative that patients who would want to be a donor are identified and assessed for eligibility for donation as part of high-quality end of life care.Publisher's note: Organ and tissue donation are interesting topics often overlooked in hospice and palliative care settings. I wrote a brief blog, have presented on, and encourage more discussion of this topic.