Physicians’ decision-making and care for patients who are reaching the end of their lives have become increasingly complex and challenging. Multiple issues can be identified that increase the complexity of end-of-life situations: economic and organizational dynamics, changes in the doctor-patient relationship, patient and family expectations and pressures, medical-legal concerns, ethical implications. Managing these issues can be difficult for physicians, who have a role to play with patients and their relatives, other physicians and medical staff as well as the legal system. The purpose of the present paper is to explore doctors’ perceptions, feelings, ideas, and experiences regarding providing care and making critical decisions near the end of life through the use of narrative interviews with a sample of Italian hospital and family physicians.
Managing complexity. Doctors’ perspectives on end-of-life decision making and care
NARDELLA, CARLO
2013
Abstract
Physicians’ decision-making and care for patients who are reaching the end of their lives have become increasingly complex and challenging. Multiple issues can be identified that increase the complexity of end-of-life situations: economic and organizational dynamics, changes in the doctor-patient relationship, patient and family expectations and pressures, medical-legal concerns, ethical implications. Managing these issues can be difficult for physicians, who have a role to play with patients and their relatives, other physicians and medical staff as well as the legal system. The purpose of the present paper is to explore doctors’ perceptions, feelings, ideas, and experiences regarding providing care and making critical decisions near the end of life through the use of narrative interviews with a sample of Italian hospital and family physicians.
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