title: Medical officers in acute care settings: their views on medically assisted hydration at the end of life.
abstract: This study explored the perceptions of doctors in acute care settings regarding the use of medically assisted hydration (MAH) in end-of-life care. The use of MAH at the end of life is controversial, and practice varies across health care settings. A qualitative study using discourse analysis was carried out. Eight medical practitioners in the acute care setting were interviewed individually. MAH has been associated with care, comfort, and standard medical intervention to save lives. Medical officers have some concerns about the benefits or adverse effects of MAH at the end of life. In acute care settings, it can be difficult to recognize and diagnose dying. Often, family discussions regarding end-of-life care do not occur due to pursuit of cure and, therefore, continuation of futile and burdensome treatment such as MAH can occur in the last few days of life.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. phillip.good@stvincentsbrisbane.org.au
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Ludmilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sneesby
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van der Riet
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D010166:Palliative Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care; D028761:Withholding Treatment