A review of deaths occurring in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1995 and 2001 indicate that 30.8% of patients died prior to discharge from hospital; 9.9% of these patients had treatment withdrawn prior to death in the ICU environment.
The limited national literature on dying in ICUs suggests that moving from futile life prolonging care to palliative care is challenging for clinicians, with little known about how relatives view a ‘good death’ in these circumstances. There is therefore need for a more detailed understanding on end of life decision making in ICU.
Dr Maureen Coombs, Senior Lecturer/Nurse Consultant.
Professor Julia Addington-Hall, Professor in End of Life Care.
Ms Angie Rogers, former Senior Research Fellow, School of Health Sciences.