Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2011
Continuous deep sedation until death in Belgium: a survey among nurses.
Continuous deep sedation (CDS) is a subject of important debate, but until now nurses have rarely been questioned about their involvement and perceptions. ⋯ Nurses in different health care settings are often involved in communication about CDS. They see it mainly as a practice intended to hasten death, with a life-shortening effect; guidelines should recommend clear discussions between caregivers in which the physician states the purpose and estimated effect of the decision.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2011
"It depends": viewpoints of patients, physicians, and nurses on patient-practitioner prayer in the setting of advanced cancer.
Although prayer potentially serves as an important practice in offering religious/spiritual support, its role in the clinical setting remains disputed. Few data exist to guide the role of patient-practitioner prayer in the setting of advanced illness. ⋯ Most patients and practitioners view patient-practitioner prayer as at least occasionally appropriate in the advanced cancer setting, and most patients view prayer as spiritually supportive. However, the appropriateness of patient-practitioner prayer is case specific, requiring consideration of multiple factors.