Liverpool Care Pathway - Whither Dignity In Living?

They are concerned with end-of-life care almost to the point of obsession.

How is that point determined with certainty? Professor Pullicino considers it not to be scientifically possible to diagnose dying and to predict death.

The assurances given that those placed on the Pathway may be removed from it should they improve serve only to confirm that wrong diagnoses of dying do occur.

Misdiagnosis is far from uncommon:

The statistics indicate as many as 9 million patients nationwide and between 400,000 and 528,000 patients in Illinois are harmed each year. According to Graber and other researchers, deaths and serious harm associated with diagnostic errors are uncommon even though an estimated 5 percent to 15 percent of medical diagnoses are incorrect. But for those harmed, Graber said the impact can be devastating.(Liverpool Care Pathway – Misdiagnosis, Misdiagnosis, Misdiagnosis) and
(Liverpool Care Pathway – And More Misdiagnosis)

But misdiagnosing dying can be fatal!

How many more, already frail and fragile, succumb to the rigours of the Pathway and fail to improve for that reason and perish on it?

And the new Death List guidelines for GPs actually advise them to use their intuition...?

This is Worcester News -

Plans over end-of-life care discussed

9:50am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Local

EXPERTS from the NHS and hospices in Worcestershire have discussed the best ways to care for people towards the end of their lives.

The topic formed part of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s second members’ event and featured a talk by Dr Ian Douglas, a consultant in palliative medicine.

Around 100 members including trust staff, staff from partner organisations and members of the public attended.

The audience was invited to speak to Dr Douglas and other professionals from different teams within the trust and from the Worcestershire hospices, general practice and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

They answered questions on the approach taken to supporting and caring for people during the final days or hours of their life.

The event coincided with the Government ordering a series of reviews into the Liverpool Care Pathway which was developed in the 1990s to guide health professionals in how to provide quality care during the final stages of someone’s life.

The pathway attracted criticism recently following complaints that it was being introduced for some patients without consent of or discussion with their families.

Dr Douglas said: “End of life care is a really big and live issue at the moment and it is something which is close to the hearts of professional, patients and their families.”

The event is the second held by the trust for its members, of which there are now over 11,000. To find out more and to complete a membership form visit worcestershirehealth.nhs.uk/whct-ft/ or contact 01905 681425.

Are there no 'Experts' from the NHS ready to come clean and have public discussions around 'Care of the Living' in NHS Hospitals?

All NHS patients deserve 'quality care', respect and 'dignity'. It is high time they received it!