By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Using the D Word: Discussing Death and End of Life Care With Patients
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Ethics > Using the D Word: Discussing Death and End of Life Care With Patients
Medical EthicsWellness

Using the D Word: Discussing Death and End of Life Care With Patients

Kara Reynolds
Kara Reynolds
Share
8 Min Read
Talking about end-of-life care may be difficult, but the stakes make the conversations worth the effort.
SHARE

No matter what your profession is, death is a difficult subject to broach. As a medical professional, discussing death and palliative care with a patient or their family can go one of two ways ? either they?re very grateful for your straightforward attitude, or they become angry with you for destroying their hope for recovery. Either way, these conversations are inevitable, so it falls to us as medical professionals to learn the best way to begin these conversations so our patients or their family members are prepared for every eventuality. How can we most effectively discuss end of life care with our patients or their families?

Contents
First, Don?t RushPrivacy Is EssentialAsk as Many Questions as You AnswerNo Definite PredictionsLearn the Patient?s GoalsUnderstand End-of-Life Directives

First, Don?t Rush

For patients and their families, this will often not be an easy conversation, but it is an essential one. Most patients or family members won?t start the conversation themselves, expecting their doctor to be the one to broach the topic. Set aside some time to have the initial conversation where you will have no distractions ? that includes pagers and cellphones. If you are on call, let someone know where you will be and shut off your electronics. Make your patient the center of your attention for this conversation. Take as much time as you and they need. Expect a variety of reactions ranging from tears to anger and everything in between. Be sympathetic and empathetic to these reactions ? even if death is inevitable for all of us, no one actually likes talking about it.

Privacy Is Essential

Don?t expect to have an end of life care conversation in a busy waiting room or hospital lobby. Use your office, borrow someone else?s or close the door to the patient?s room, but make an effort to ensure the conversation is a private one. This conversation doesn?t belong to anyone but you, your patient and if applicable, your patient?s family members. If your patient or their family is more comfortable, the conversation will be easier to get through. The dialog is never easy, but comfortable communication can help to make it less painful.

Ask as Many Questions as You Answer

Find out what your patient or their family members know about the diagnosis. The key here is to ask as many questions as you answer ? keep the dialog open and interactive instead of standing there and explaining stuff to patients or family members. Find out what they know and then fill in the gaps and explain their options for hospice, palliative care and other end-of-life options. This is also the time to bring up directives, which we?ll discuss in greater detail in a moment.

More Read

patient communities
Top Digital Health Innovations That Will Transform Healthcare
Need a Therapist? Go to Your Computer
Body Odor and Skin Bacteria
Boomer Voice: Forget the Mandate, Educate
California Medical Board Under Fire For Failure to Discipline Doctors

No Definite Predictions

?How long do I have?? This is the one question that is probably the most common during end of life care discussions. It is also the hardest to answer because even after a terminal diagnosis, predicting the remaining life of a patient is nearly impossible. A patient with terminal cancer could live for six months to a year after a diagnosis, or they could simply fade away in two weeks with little to no warning. If a patient insists on an answer, try to be as general as possible ? talk in months instead of weeks ? but ensure the patient is aware of how quickly these things can change. One study has shown that asking yourself the surprise question ? Would I be surprised if this patient died in the next 12 months? ? can help more accurately predict death in terminal patients. It?s still not an exact science and it shouldn?t be treated as such.

Learn the Patient?s Goals

During this conversation, one of your objectives should be to learn the patient?s goals when it comes to end of life care. Are they seeking to live as long as possible, or simply to remain comfortable for the remainder of their life? These goals will affect treatment options and will determine what your patient or their family member wants to do with the remainder of their time. If the patient wants to refuse treatment, for example, that will affect how the rest of the conversation goes. Don?t start an argument here ? respecting the patient?s decision might seem difficult if it goes against your sensibilities as a doctor or a person. When it comes down to it, it?s up to your patient how they choose to live out their final months.

Understand End-of-Life Directives

During this conversation is the best time to start discussing end-of-life directives. Ask your patient about their preferences when it comes to things like DNR orders and organ donation. If a family member is handling care and preparations, find out if the patient had a living will before their condition deteriorated. If so, end-of-life preparations and decisions may already be outlined. If the patient has no living family, if may also be a good time to discuss establishing someone with a power of attorney to ensure their care is handled and their wishes followed. Having all these things planned out before their heath deteriorates can help make funeral arrangements and similar proceedings much simpler after the patient passes away. End of life care conversations are never easy ? and arguably, they should never become easy ? but they are necessary to ensure a patient with a terminal diagnosis can live the remainder of their life on their own terms. As medical professionals, your job is to provide care, but also to provide information so these individuals can make the most informed decision possible. Be empathetic, but don?t sugarcoat things. Death is a natural part of life, and while we might not celebrate it like some cultures do, there is little we can do to avoid it. Don?t make it scary, and don?t become a robot ? just talk to your patients like a human being and help lead them through one of the most difficult parts of their lives.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Health careHome HealthMobile HealthTechnology

The Top Trending Health Care Apps In 2020

April 10, 2020
Basketball courts at Aegis Living Seattle
DiagnosticsWellness

Different System, Same Challenges: Long-Term Care Perspective From Canada

June 6, 2016
Image
SpecialtiesWellness

How To Choose Gym Equipment That’s Right For You

February 25, 2019
protecting your teeth
Home HealthWellness

A Few Top Tips For Protecting Your Teeth From Degradation

February 27, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?