TERMINATION OF LIFE SUPPORT

Course overview

TERMINATION OF LIFE SUPPORT IS AN IMPORTANT INTERVENTION THAT EVERY PHYSICIAN NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF, AS ANY PATIENT WHO HAS REACHED AN ‘END-OF-LIFE’ STAGE AND CONSENTING TO IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR ITS INITIATION. PROVIDING APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY END-OF-LIFE CARE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PATIENTS. WHEN INDICATED AND PERFORMED WELL, ‘TERMINATION OF LIFE SUPPORT’ HELPS THE PATIENT ACHIEVE A ‘GOOD DEATH’ AND PROVIDES COMFORT TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TERMINATION OF LIFE SUPPORT FOR THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM.