Module highlight: Chronic Complex Illness
Clinicians can be faced with uncertainty in caring for patients living with chronic complex illnesses. Some patients living with advanced, unstable illness may live longer than expected, while others may have an unforeseen sudden death.
Deciding whether to offer discussions about end-of-life with a patient often occurs in a series of conversations. When the illness trajectory is uncertain, asking patients what they would prefer to know could offer a compassionate and clear way forward.
Think about how you currently raise end-of-life issues with patients. Questions such as:
- 'Are you the kind of person who wants to know what will happen in the future?'
- 'Do you have any questions for me about what might happen down the track?'
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