Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine 5/2006

01-05-2006 | Brief Report

A good death

Authors: Brigitte C. Beuks, Aafke C. Nijhof, John H. J. M. Meertens, Jack J. M. Ligtenberg, Jaap E. Tulleken, Jan G. Zijlstra

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 5/2006

Login to get access

Abstract

We describe the cases of two patients discharged home directly from the ICU. Both patients had the strong wish to die at home after being told that there were no therapeutic options. Sometimes discharge is feasible and can mean very much for patients and their family. Taking measures to ensure a “good deathbed” is an obligation for doctors and nursing staff. However, due to the focus on cure this palliative goal is not always pursued.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Wu AW, Damiano AM, Lynn J, Alzola C, Teno J, Landefeld S, Desbiens N, Tsevat J, Mayer-Oakes A, Harrell FE, Knaus WA (1995) Predicting future functional status for seriously ill hospitalized adults. Ann Intern Med 122:342-350PubMed Wu AW, Damiano AM, Lynn J, Alzola C, Teno J, Landefeld S, Desbiens N, Tsevat J, Mayer-Oakes A, Harrell FE, Knaus WA (1995) Predicting future functional status for seriously ill hospitalized adults. Ann Intern Med 122:342-350PubMed
2.
go back to reference Carlet J, Thijs LG, Antonelli M, Cassell J, Cox P, Hill N, Hinds C, Pimentel JM, Reinhart K, Thompson BT (2004) Challenges in end-of-life care in the ICU. Statement of the 5th International Consensus Conference in Critical Care: Brussels, Belgium, April 2003. Intensive Care Med 30:770-784PubMedCrossRef Carlet J, Thijs LG, Antonelli M, Cassell J, Cox P, Hill N, Hinds C, Pimentel JM, Reinhart K, Thompson BT (2004) Challenges in end-of-life care in the ICU. Statement of the 5th International Consensus Conference in Critical Care: Brussels, Belgium, April 2003. Intensive Care Med 30:770-784PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Van der Werf TS, Zijlstra JG, Ligtenberg JJ, Tulleken JE (2005) Decisions around the end of life on intensive care: making the transition from curative to palliative treatment. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 149:742-746PubMed Van der Werf TS, Zijlstra JG, Ligtenberg JJ, Tulleken JE (2005) Decisions around the end of life on intensive care: making the transition from curative to palliative treatment. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 149:742-746PubMed
4.
go back to reference Mularski RA, Heine CE, Osborne ML, Ganzini L, Curtis JR (2005) Quality of dying in the ICU: ratings by family members. Chest 128:280-287PubMedCrossRef Mularski RA, Heine CE, Osborne ML, Ganzini L, Curtis JR (2005) Quality of dying in the ICU: ratings by family members. Chest 128:280-287PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Heyland DK, Cook DJ, Rocker GM, Dodek PM, Kutsogiannis DJ, Peters S, Tranmer JE, O'Callaghan CJ (2003) Decision-making in the ICU: perspectives of the substitute decision-maker. Intensive Care Med 29:75-82PubMed Heyland DK, Cook DJ, Rocker GM, Dodek PM, Kutsogiannis DJ, Peters S, Tranmer JE, O'Callaghan CJ (2003) Decision-making in the ICU: perspectives of the substitute decision-maker. Intensive Care Med 29:75-82PubMed
Metadata
Title
A good death
Authors
Brigitte C. Beuks
Aafke C. Nijhof
John H. J. M. Meertens
Jack J. M. Ligtenberg
Jaap E. Tulleken
Jan G. Zijlstra
Publication date
01-05-2006
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-006-0097-6

Other articles of this Issue 5/2006

Intensive Care Medicine 5/2006 Go to the issue