Recognising dying is the first step in terminal care management.
If three or more of these symptoms are present, it is likely the patient is in the terminal phase:
- Deteriorating irreversibly on a rapid day to day basis
- Intervening more frequently
- Lapsing into semi-conscious or unconsciousness
- Increasing loss of ability to swallow
- Refusing or unable to take food, fluids or oral medicines
- Irreversible weight loss
- Occurrence of an acute event has occurred, requiring revision of treatment goals
- Profound weakness
- Changes in breathing patterns
The clinical priorities now are:
- Talk to patient and/or family
- Address symptoms
- Ensure appropriate medications are available
- Plan end-of-life care according to the setting
- Advise other health professionals
If clinical improvement occurs, the patient should continue to be re-assessed regularly.
Consider in which setting your patient is going to die:
Page updated 22 May 2017