CPR or DNR? End-of-life decision in Korean cancer patients: a single center’s experience

Abstract

In relation to DNR decisions in South Korean cancer patients, proxy decision-making is overwhelming and issuance of DNR discussion is raised at a late stage.

Quality of end-of-life treatment for cancer patients in general wards and the palliative care unit at a regional cancer center in Japan: a retrospective chart review

“…In this study, DNR orders were documented for 94-98% of patients. This was comparable to previous reports in Japan [21] and a little higher than abroad where 77-88% of patients had DNR orders [3,7,8,11,27]. Questionnaire surveys indicated that the end-of-life decision making was more often entrusted to families rather than to patients in Japan [23][24][25].…”

“…After publication of the SUPPORT study, many studies reported inadequacy of end-of-life treatment in general wards. Especially in the last 48 h of life, many patients received inappropriate life-sustaining treatment [4][5][6][7][8][9] and inadequate pain and symptom management [4][5][6][9][10][11]. The current status of end-of-life treatment should be investigated to improve the clinical care of dying hospitalized patients.…”

An Evaluation of Nutrition Support for Terminal Cancer Patients at Teaching Hospitals in Korea

“…Discussions about end of life issues have recently gained increased attention in both medical and lay publications (8,9). Terminally ill patients in Western countries can specify their medical care for end of life situations in an advanced directive document, such as a living will or a durable power of attorney of health care (10,11).…”

Comparison of End-of-Life Care Intensity between Cancer and Non-cancer Patients: a Single Center Experience

“…이처럼 임종기 환자들의 사망원인은 다양함에도 불구하고, 암환자와 비-암환자 를 비교한 임종기 관리에 대한 연구는 국외에서 몇몇 연구들이 진행된 바는 있으나 (6,7), 국내 연구는 대부분 암환자에 국한되어 있다 (3,8,9).…”