title: Death, dying, and last wishes.
abstract: Issues regarding patient care near the end of life can be challenging and rewarding for emergency physicians. Knowledge of the patient's wishes is essential, and may be accomplished by advance directives or communication with patients and surrogates. Resuscitative efforts are appropriate for many patients, but inappropriate for others. The goals of medicine remain the following: providing optimal health care, provision of the best possible symptom control, communication, empathy, and caring. As death approaches, provision of the best possible medical care, in accordance with the patient's wishes, can be rewarding for patients, families, and health care providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Acute Care Services, St Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, OH 43608-2691, USA. cmarco2@aol.com
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Raquel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schears
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D001675:Bioethics; D003643:Death; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics*