Literature Review

Montana House considers bill to put more sideboards on medical assistance in dying NBC KPVI-6, Pocatello, ID; by Darrell Ehrlick; 2/26/25 ... On Wednesday, in a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that was full of as much testimony as tears, opponents and supporters of medical aid in dying, sometimes called “physician-assisted suicide,” discussed House Bill 637, which would codify requirements for physicians to use the process. ... Demonstrating the often complex political issue that can’t be broken down by party lines, Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, who is also a lawyer and rabbi, said he was truly conflicted on the bill, and wondered how Juras, also an attorney, viewed the proposed legislation in light of the state constitution’s right to dignity. ... Testimony from medical professionals ranged from strong support to opposition,  ... [Click here for] Here's what [Montana] House Bill 637 would do ...

Hospitals may buckle under 'tsunami' of patients Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 2/25/25 Health systems are treating sicker patients, straining already full emergency departments and inpatient units. Many health systems are struggling to keep up with the increasingly complex healthcare needs of an aging population, leading to overcrowded emergency rooms and delays in care. Providers are ramping up strategies to treat patients more efficiently and keep those who aren't as sick out of emergency departments. These strategies are critical as capacity wanes and providers face a potential decline in federal healthcare funding, executives said. Health systems are revamping patient admission and discharge processes; bolstering virtual, home and urgent care offerings; expanding clinician recruitment efforts and adding observation beds. But providers are concerned they won't be able to act quickly enough to meet the growing demand for care.

‘Global problem’: Numerous factors, biases contribute to overtreatment at end of life Healio; by Josh Friedman; 2/26/25 Nathan I. Cherny, MD, has worked all around the world. At every stop — from Australia to Israel, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in between — he has seen people with cancer receive overly aggressive treatment at the end of life. ... In a review published in ESMO Open, Cherny and a cohort of multinational colleagues highlighted numerous reasons why overtreatment occurs among patients approaching the end of life, ... They listed more than 20 contributing factors, including desire for control of the cancer, denial and anger, family pressure and hope preservation. The two factors that contribute most to overtreatment are optimism bias and the “counterphobic determination to treat,” which involves clinicians having a difficult time introducing the suggestion of palliative care revert to offering further treatments, Cherny said. ... Responsibility for decisions does not need to fall solely on oncologists, Cherny added. Palliative care physicians, social workers, chaplains and others can be part of a team to assist patients with their choices. ... The number of patients who are overtreated differs at each institution. “Each institution has its own culture of care,” Cherny said. Editor's note: This article puts forth significant insights for all palliative and hospice clinicians, interdisciplinary teams, and palliative/hospice executive leaders. Apply Cherny's to your referral sources: "Each institution has its own culture of care." Apply these findings to your own palliative and hospice services. 

[Korea] 9 in 10 Koreans support ending life-prolonging treatment: study The Korea Times; by Kim Hyun-bin; 2/24/25 More than nine out of ten Koreans think that they would opt to forgo life-prolonging treatment if they were terminally ill, a new study has found, highlighting shifting attitudes toward end-of-life care in the country. According to a report released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on Sunday, 91.9 percent of respondents expressed they would choose to discontinue life-sustaining treatment if they were diagnosed with a terminal illness or were nearing the end of life, based on a survey conducted last April and May on 1,021 men and women. 8.1 percent stated they would prefer to continue such treatment.

What is death positivity? Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, New Hampshire & Vermont; by Phaneuf; 2/19/25 Death positivity is a growing movement that challenges the long-held taboos surrounding death. Rather than shying away from the subject, death positivity encourages individuals and communities to discuss mortality openly. It’s about accepting death as a natural part of life, reducing the fear and stigma often associated with it, and using that acceptance as a foundation for better end-of-life planning and living more fully. Historically, many cultures—including those in the New England region—often treated death as a private, somber affair. Today, however, a new narrative is emerging: one that celebrates the life lived, honors the memories left behind, and helps families make informed, compassionate decisions about the future.

Patients without family or health care proxies face overtreatment or limbo in hospitals WHYY - PBS; by Maiken Scott; 2/24/25 A program matches unrepresented patients with volunteers who can make care decisions for them during health care crises. ... [Intensive care physician David] Oxman says unrepresented patients are a small, but growing group. Some have outlived their family members, or are estranged from them. Maybe they’ve moved a lot, sometimes substance use or homelessness plays a role. The situation is especially complicated with patients who have dementia, or who can’t communicate their wishes for other reasons. ... Most states have provisions where medical guardians and medical decision makers can be appointed by a court, but that takes a long time. In the meantime, a search for relatives begins. David Sontag, director of ethics for Beth Israel Lahey Health in Massachusetts, ... created a matching program where health care professionals volunteer to represent patients, not within their own hospital systems because that could cross ethical boundaries, but at other hospitals. “This is an opportunity for us to help some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, those who have nobody to speak for them when they can no longer speak for themselves. And that allows us to respect their autonomy throughout their lives,” he said.

Hospice workers in Tampa experience what it feels like to live with dementiaFox 13 Tampa Bay, FL; by Kailey Tracy; 2/19/25 Keosha Simmons says her father, who died in 2018, was a hard worker and an amazing man. ... "He did live with dementia. It was an early onset of dementia. He ended up with cancer, and it was a later stage when we found out about it, and that's when he came under the care of Empath Health Suncoast Hospice," Simmons said. Simmons is now the Director of Empath’s Community Engagement team. On Wednesday, Simmons and her team did a different kind of training. It was a hands-on simulation to experience what someone with dementia feels. [From this article's "The Brief" Summary.]

Hospice of the Chesapeake Advanced Cardiac Care Program seeks to reduce hospital visits Southern Maryland News Net; Press Release; 2/20/25Hospice of the Chesapeake, in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) announces the Advanced Cardiac Care Program to address one of the nation’s largest killers of Americans – heart disease. Each year, more Americans die from heart disease than any other condition, including cancer. Heart disease is also a leading cause of hospitalization: patients with congestive heart failure alone account for more than one million inpatient admissions annually. By offering heart disease patients the right educational resources, we empower them to take control of their health,” Hospice of the Chesapeake Vice President of Medical Affairs & Hospice Medical Director Dr. Sonja Richmond said. “The resources available through the Advanced Cardiac Care Program can help patients and caregivers better manage their condition, reducing the likelihood of hospital visits and improving their quality of life.” ... Carole Fisher, President of NPHI [said,] “Far too many die alone in a hospital or nursing facility, when instead our hospice teams could care for them wherever they reside and they could enjoy a far higher quality of life surrounded by loved ones.”Editor's note: Links to Hospice of the Chesapeake; AHA'sHospice Care" webpage; NPHI's Advanced Cardiac Care.rogram.   

Innovations in serious illness care with Bree Owens Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux; 2/19/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux interviews Bree Owens, a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of The Holding Group.  They discuss Bree’s journey in the healthcare field, particularly in Palliative Care. Bree shares insights on learning the importance of meaningful conversations with patients and their families about care options, which led her to the unique model of The Holding Group.  Her organization has created space, hence the name The Holding Group, for a patient-centered approach, helping patients and their families find the right care at the right place and at the right time.  Bree emphasizes the significance of informed consent and the role of social workers in facilitating these discussions to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Mayo Clinic Hospice to present improv show on end-of-life care at Marion Ross theater Albert Lea Tribune; 2/18/25 In honor of Mayo Clinic Hospice celebrating 45 years of service to Southeast Minnesota, in collaboration with Danger Boat Productions, the Naeve Health Care Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine, invites the community to attend “End-of-Life: Live and Unscripted.” The event will be held at the Marion Ross Theatre from 6 to 7 p.m. March 27, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. This unique improv show aims to bring the community together for an evening of laughter and learning. Attendees will gain insights into advanced care planning, important end-of-life care considerations and ways to support the community during end-of-life stages.Editor's note: Though readers surely will not be able to attend, we post this to spark your collaborations for community engagement and education through the arts. 

The intersection of medicine and humanity in palliative care Michigan Technology News; Guest Column; 2/19/25 Palliative care stands as a testament to the intricate balance between medical science and human compassion. ...  The human side of palliative care is as vital as its clinical aspect. Patients in palliative care are not just medical cases; they are individuals with personal histories, emotions, and relationships that require acknowledgment and respect. ... This approach necessitates a deep level of empathy and an understanding that every patient’s journey is unique. ...

Cancer, aging, and meaning: Navigating psychosocial challenges The ASCO Post (Association for Clinical Oncology); by Ramy Sedhom, MD; 2/18/25 I’ve learned a lot about medicine over the years, but one thing I wasn’t taught was how to guide someone through the existential weight of dying. My education centered on diagnosing, curing, or at least managing disease—not on the delicate art of helping people and their loved ones cope with what cannot be cured. Now, several years into my career as an oncologist, primarily caring for older adults, I recognize that providing cancer care for the whole patient requires deep attention to their psychosocial health needs. ...

Center for Hospice Care's BreatheEazy Program supports patients with respiratory issues LaporteCounty.Life; by Garrett Spoor; 2/13/25 One of the toughest health challenges a person can face is the trouble of breathing. Center for Hospice Care comes across a lot of patients who experience this issue and encourages many of them to become a part of their BreatheEazy program. Dr. Karissa Misner, medical director at Center for Hospice Care, considers the BreatheEazy program to be a monumental boost for patients who might have respiratory issues. “This is a specialized pulmonary program for our patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” Misner said. “It can also be used for many other terminal diagnoses that affect the lungs. Whenever there is any type of illness that causes difficulty in breathing, we can utilize this program.”