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respiratory
End-of-life care

Lung cancer top of the list for assisted dying

Lung cancer is the leading reason for people with terminal illness to seek medical assistance to end their lives, according to the latest figures from Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. However other serious respiratory conditions such as COPD were infrequently...

Lung cancer is the leading reason for people with terminal illness to seek medical assistance to end their lives, according...

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end-of-life-care

How to change the mindset on referrals to palliative care for non-cancer respiratory disease?

Palliative care provides numerous benefits for people with non-cancer advanced respiratory disease, so why is it so little used for patients with a high levels of needs? Respiratory and palliative care physicians from Victoria have investigated why...

Palliative care provides numerous benefits for people with non-cancer advanced respiratory disease, so why is it so little...
end-of-life-care

Hierarchical approach to managing dyspnoea in advanced lung cancer: ASCO guideline

For patients with advanced cancer-associated dyspnoea, a hierarchical approach beginning with an assessment and non-pharmacologic interventions before moving on to pharmacologic options is recommended, according to a new guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). “[Dyspnoea] is one...

For patients with advanced cancer-associated dyspnoea, a hierarchical approach beginning with an assessment and non-pharmacologic interventions before moving on to...
end-of-life-care

End-of-life patient experience shows unmet need in non-cancer respiratory disease

The trajectories of functional decline and overall symptom burden are surprisingly similar in patients with end-stage lung cancer and those with non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases. The evidence supports the ongoing call for improved access to palliative care in non-cancer patients. According to...

The trajectories of functional decline and overall symptom burden are surprisingly similar in patients with end-stage lung cancer and those...
end-of-life-care

Advanced Care Planning: talk early, talk often

Most people with cancer want to discuss end-of-life care but there is an ongoing lack of discussion between patients and their doctors, Australian research shows. The advocacy group Advance Care Planning Australia is urging oncologists to promote the uptake of advance...

Most people with cancer want to discuss end-of-life care but there is an ongoing lack of discussion between patients and...
end-of-life-care

Caring for the terminally ill person in prison

Consider for a moment how it might feel to be told you have a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Uncertainty? Fear? Grief? Everything is different, and your family and friends matter more than ever. Now consider the same advanced cancer diagnosis and picture...

Consider for a moment how it might feel to be told you have a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Uncertainty? Fear?...
end-of-life-care

Morphine listed on PBS for chronic breathlessness in palliative care

Sustained-release morphine (Kapanol) tablets will be listed on the PBS from 1 September for the management of chronic breathlessness in palliative care settings. The listing will provide subsidised treatment  for symptomatic relief of chronic breathlessness in patients with advanced COPD, cardiac...

Sustained-release morphine (Kapanol) tablets will be listed on the PBS from 1 September for the management of chronic breathlessness in...
end-of-life-care

Functional decline at end of life shows ‘tipping point’ in respiratory patients

Functional decline at the end of life shows two distinct trajectories for patients with conditions such as lung cancer and COPD compared to those with more stable illnesses such as dementia, an Australian study has shown. The finding that functional decline for...

Functional decline at the end of life shows two distinct trajectories for patients with conditions such as lung cancer and COPD...
end-of-life-care

Low dose morphine now indicated for chronic breathlessness

Low dose morphine capsules have been licensed by the TGA for the treatment of chronic breathlessness. The re-purposing of Kapanol sustained-release capsules (10mg and 20mg) from use in chronic pain to chronic breathlessness has been welcomed by palliative care specialist Professor...

Low dose morphine capsules have been licensed by the TGA for the treatment of chronic breathlessness. The re-purposing of Kapanol sustained-release...
end-of-life-care

‘Tethered to the tubing’: Careful thought needed before prescribing oxygen

Frank discussions about the likely benefits and downsides of home oxygen are needed to manage expectations of patients with chronic breathlessness syndrome and their carers, Australian research suggests. Qualitative research  from South Australia involving semi-structured interviews with 19 breathless patients revealed...

Frank discussions about the likely benefits and downsides of home oxygen are needed to manage expectations of patients with chronic...
end-of-life-care

Deprescribing call for lung cancer patients taking unnecessary medicines

De-prescribing will help relieve the pill burden for lung cancer patients who are often taking unnecessary preventive medications such as statins and antihypertensives in the advanced stages of their disease, a study shows. A retrospective review of medical records for patients...

De-prescribing will help relieve the pill burden for lung cancer patients who are often taking unnecessary preventive medications such as...
end-of-life-care

Lung cancer patients pay more than $20,000 in upfront fees

One quarter of cancer patients are paying more than $20,000 in up-front doctors' fees for their treatment, a new study suggests. Australian researchers linked data from 452 patients with melanoma and breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer to Medicare data on...

One quarter of cancer patients are paying more than $20,000 in up-front doctors' fees for their treatment, a new study...
end-of-life-care

Palliative care group opposes opioid prescribing curbs

Palliative medicine clinicians are warning against a regulatory move to curtail GPs’ powers to prescribe opioids. The controversial idea to limit prescribing of Schedule 8 opioids to specialist/authority prescribing or to "certain classes of medical practitioners" was put forward in a...

Palliative medicine clinicians are warning against a regulatory move to curtail GPs’ powers to prescribe opioids. The controversial idea to limit...
end-of-life-care

Shared care in the home meeting end-of-life needs

A shared care program where people with advanced COPD are seen regularly by respiratory and palliative care teams in their own home has been met with enthusiasm from respiratory physicians and patients and their families. The program run out of...

A shared care program where people with advanced COPD are seen regularly by respiratory and palliative care teams in their...
end-of-life-care

End of life discussions prove surprisingly popular with health professionals

An online course to open up discussion and remove the stigma around palliative care and dying has proved hugely popular with health professionals as well as the community. Dying2Learn, a free, five-week massive online open course (MOOC) developed by a team...

An online course to open up discussion and remove the stigma around palliative care and dying has proved hugely popular...
end-of-life-care

Earlier access to home-based palliative care reduced hospital admissions

Terminally ill patients who have early access to home-based palliative care have fewer hospital admissions at the end of their lives, raising questions about the fiscal wisdom of time-based restrictions on such services. Researchers at Curtin University looked at the relationship between...

Terminally ill patients who have early access to home-based palliative care have fewer hospital admissions at the end of their...
end-of-life-care

Mandatory end-of-life care standards to be introduced in 2019

All hospitals and healthcare providers will need to have systems to support optimum end-of-life care under new national quality standards to be introduced in 2019. Routine provision of advanced care plans, substitute decision makers and shared decision making will be key...

All hospitals and healthcare providers will need to have systems to support optimum end-of-life care under new national quality standards...
end-of-life-care

Rapidly increasing end-of-life care needs: a timely warning

End-of-life care is not a specialty, it is everyone’s business. The rapid increase in population aging is a worldwide issue [1], although it is more pronounced in the developed world, bringing about obvious...

End-of-life care is not a specialty, it is everyone’s business. The rapid increase...
end-of-life-care

Driving advice unclear for end-of-life patients

Many doctors are confused about when it's safe for their patients with advanced stage disease to get behind the wheel, a new study reports. In the first survey to investigate the practice of Australian doctors assessing fitness to drive researchers...

Many doctors are confused about when it's safe for their patients with advanced stage disease to get behind the wheel,...
end-of-life-care

World first SIG for TSANZ

A symptom support and palliative care special interest group just approved by the TSANZ Board is believed to be the first SIG of its kind in respiratory societies around the world. The multidisciplinary SIG aims to improve the care of patients...

A symptom support and palliative care special interest group just approved by the TSANZ Board is believed to be the...
end-of-life-care

Integrated respiratory-palliative care to benefit COPD patients

A proposed model of a care for embedding palliative care into the routine care of patients with COPD will help counter patient and physician concerns, an expert says. Dr Natasha Smallwood, who leads the Advanced Lung Disease Service at the Royal...

A proposed model of a care for embedding palliative care into the routine care of patients with COPD will help...
end-of-life-care

In places where it’s legal, how many people are ending their lives using euthanasia?

The Victorian Parliament will consider a bill to legalise euthanasia in the second half of 2017. That follows the South Australian Parliament’s decision to knock back a voluntary euthanasia bill late last year, and the...

The Victorian Parliament will consider a bill to legalise euthanasia in the second half of 2017....
end-of-life-care

Ruling on assisted dying drug Nembutal sets important precedent

Just before Christmas 2016, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handed down a historic judgement in a case brought by the veteran advocate for assisted dying, Dr Rodney Syme. This followed a decision, which was then referred to...

Just before Christmas 2016, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handed down a historic judgement in a case...
end-of-life-care

DNACPR top tips for healthcare professionals

Palliative care consultant Dr Mark Taubert gives his top tips for healthcare professionals who are going to engage in sensitive CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Do Not Attempt CPR  discussions with patients near the end of life. Dr Taubert and his team...

Palliative care consultant Dr Mark Taubert gives his top tips for healthcare professionals who are going to engage in sensitive...
end-of-life-care

A snapshot of palliative care services in Australia

Did you know that over 62,000 hospitalisations in 2013 were palliative care-related?  For more key facts on palliative care services in Australia check out this infographic from the AIHW.   ...

Did you know that over 62,000 hospitalisations in 2013 were palliative care-related?  For more key facts on palliative care services...