Premium
Navigating the complexities of voluntary assisted dying in palliative care
Author(s) -
Waran Eswaran,
William Leeroy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja2.50729
Subject(s) - citation , library science , palliative care , sociology , media studies , medicine , nursing , computer science
The patient was diagnosed with metastatic (axillary nodes) breast cancer in 2016 at the age of 53 years and declined completion staging and all conventional treatment options. She was referred to community palliative care services in 2019 with clinically progressive locoregional disease, manifesting as fungating malignant disease of the chest wall and axilla. She experienced symptoms of pain, nausea, anorexia, and weight loss. Pharmacological treatment options for her symptoms were refused due to her sensitivities to many medications. The patient lived alone but had support from friends and siblings. She had a history of chronic fatigue syndrome and mood disorder. She did not subscribe to a religion, but believed in the soul and an afterlife. She had been caring for her mother, who died from advanced breast cancer. Her mother’s suffering at the end of her life was a significant reason for the patient’s decision to pursue voluntary assisted dying. She commenced the voluntary assisted dying process in July 2019.