FOI Request
- Disclosure ID
- FOI/01081
- Request Date
- July 7, 2016
- Subject
- Abortions and Palliative care
- Description
1. Number of abortions per year, I would like this figure as I am secretary of an anti-abortion association. Please supply information about the number of abortions per year for the most recent year for which you have a total.
2. Care of dying, Re the guideline given by the government: “if the doctor says that a patient has less than 3 days to live, food and fluids are not to be given but sedation may be given.” Is this guide-line followed in BVH? Please inform me about the current practice of giving (or not giving) food and fluids to patients thought to be near death.
- Response
1. 1st Aug 2015 -31 July 2016 – 17
2. We follow the 5 Priorities for Care of the Dying Person as stated below. There is no blanket policy that states that a person who is dying ( whether within the last 3 days of life or not) should have food or fluids withheld. This would be ethically indefensible. As priority 5 states below, each patient should have an individual plan of care depending on their needs and wishes, which will include decisions about food and fluid and the use of medication to control symptoms. We do not advocate the routine use of sedation for the dying person but would recommend that health care professionals monitor the dying person for signs of distress or agitation and administer medication to relieve this symptom, as they would relieve other symptoms such as pain or sickness.
Any individualised plan of care must follow the 5 Priorities for the Care of the Dying Person, stated in One Chance to Get it Right (June 2014):
The Priorities for Care are that, when it is thought that a person may die within the next few days or hours:
- This possibility is recognised and communicated clearly, decisions made and actions taken in accordance with the person’s needs and wishes, and these are regularly reviewed and decisions revised accordingly.
- Sensitive communication takes place between staff and the dying person, and those identified as important to them.
- The dying person, and those identified as important to them, are involved in decisions about treatment and care to the extent that the dying person wants.
- The needs of families and others identified as important to the dying person are actively explored, respected and met as far as possible.
- An individual plan of care, which includes food and drink, symptom control and psychological, social and spiritual support, is agreed, co-ordinated and delivered with compassion.
A decision about the management of food and fluids must be documented in the patients clinical record after discussion with the patient, where appropriate, and with the family/carers