The Zoomer Report: End of Life

It’s a difficult subject of special interest to Zoomers. What happens at the end of life? A study from Harvard medical School finds that terminally ill people who get early counselling about end-of-life care undergo less aggressive medical treatment in their final days.

The findings suggest that patients who only discuss their wishes at the last minute end up undergoing more lifesaving efforts such as chemotherapy and intensive care. Those who discuss their wishes earlier are more likely to undergo the alternative — treatments like hospice care whose main purpose is to reduce suffering, not to extend life.

The study, said to be the first of its kind, sought to understand whether the timing of these discussions made any difference in their care patients received as they died.

The researchers tracked 1,231 patients with terminal lung or colorectal cancer who died over a 15-month period.

Of those who only discussed end-of-life care in the final month of life, 65 per cent received aggressive care in those last 30 days.

But among the patients who had that discussion more than three months before death: Only a third received aggressive treatment in their final month.

The numbers suggest that delaying discussions of end-of-life care leads to more aggressive treatment during a patient’s final days instead of treatment that’s purely designed to ease suffering.

Does this mean that terminal patients who discuss their wishes earlier are more likely to get the treatment they desire at the end of their lives?

The researchers believe the answer is yes. They say patients who understand a poor prognosis are more likely to choose less aggressive care at the end of life. And even though not every patient opts for palliative care, most who recognize that they’re dying want that.

READ MORE ZOOMER REPORTS
The Zoomer Report: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
The Zoomer Report: Music Eases Cancer Patients’ Anxiety
The Zoomer Report: Single Hospital Rooms and Infection

About The Zoomer Report

Libby Znaimer, a prominent Canadian journalist specializing in business, politics, and lifestyle issues, is producer and host of The Zoomer Report, a special feature on topics of interest to baby boomers and the 50+. It covers everything from health and wealth to leisure and volunteerism, from the special vantage point of the generation that has changed society in its wake.

Ms. Znaimer is also Vice-President of News and Information for Classical 96.3FM and AM740. Her first book, “In Cancerland – Living Well Is The Best Revenge” – was published in October 2007 by Key Porter.