Compassion in Dying Policy Manifesto
We would like to invite you to read Compassion in Dying’s recently published Policy Manifesto.
Research indicates that making informed decisions about end-of-life care treatment and setting them out in advance can improve patient experiences, by helping ensure that patients’ wishes preferences are respected (Compassion in Dying, 2013; BMJ 2010). Furthermore, bereaved families carers are less likely to experience major depression after a death if the deceased engages in open discussion about their end-of-life wishes before they die (Wright et al. 2008). Compassion in Dying believes that there is a need to embed awareness and uptake of end-of-life rights in health policy to maximise these benefits for individuals.
We have identified 3 main barriers to uptake of end of life rights:
- Lack of public and professional awareness of legal rights at the end of life
- Lack of a formal system for recording Advance Decisions
- Complexity and cost involved in completing an Advance Decision or Lasting Power of Attorney
Our Policy Manifesto sets out the ways in which we believe these barriers can be tackled in order to bring about greater patient involvement and choice at the end of life.
Please click here to read the Compassion in Dying Policy Manifesto
