Abstract
SummaryThe General Medical Council's guidelines on treatment and care towards the end of life, published in May 2010, contain important guidance for all doctors, including psychiatrists, who care for patients and their families towards the end of life. The document is written in the light of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and complements existing Good Medical Practice and confidentiality guidelines, also from the General Medical Council. Psychiatrists need to be aware of the communication, legal and ethical issues around end-of-life care, including advance directives and clinically assisted nutrition and hydration. This new guidance is compulsory reading for all psychiatrists.
Highlights
REVIEW ARTICLESummary The General Medical Council’s guidelines on treatment and care towards the end of life, published in May 2010, contain important guidance for all doctors, including psychiatrists, who care for patients and their families towards the end of life
The guidance states that someone is approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the 12 months, whether from advanced, progressive, incurable conditions, or general frailty and coexisting conditions; they may be at risk of dying from a sudden acute crisis in their existing condition or life-threatening acute conditions caused by sudden catastrophic events
This guidance is addressed to doctors, care towards the end of life is provided by many professionals within multidisciplinary healthcare teams and it is suggested that they, as well as a lay readership, may benefit from it
Summary
Summary The General Medical Council’s guidelines on treatment and care towards the end of life, published in May 2010, contain important guidance for all doctors, including psychiatrists, who care for patients and their families towards the end of life. There is much that is welcome, helpful and important Psychiatrists, those providing services for older people or working in liaison with general hospitals or hospices, need to be equipped to deal with death in prospect, in practice and in its aftermath.[2] This new GMC guidance is written in the light of recent changes to legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and legal challenges to some aspects of its predecessor.[3] It applies to the UK, identifying differences in legal requirements within the four constituent countries, and complements GMC guidance on good medical practice[4] and confidentiality.[5] The language is excitingly concise yet comprehensible, with a glossary of terms and three clearly separated systems of references: to relevant publications, to web-based sources of information and guidance, and to legal precedents
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