Palliative Care in Terminal Illness

Part 1 Philosophy of terminal illness: acceptance of the reality of death; the doctor and the dying patient; the nurse and the dying patient; initial assessment and planning of patient care; implementation and evaluation of care; the nursing of the family; the role of the nurse within the multidisciplinary team; the individual qualities of the nurse; care of the dying patient; communication with the relatives; care of the bereaved; home care; caring for the carers; other guidelines for staff support; ethical issues in terminal illness; ethical problems in ethnic groups. Part 2 Terminal care of patients with advanced AIDS and HIV. Part 3 Control of distressing symptoms: pain; nausea and vomiting; anorexia; sore and dry mouth; dysphagia; constipation; diarrhoea; micturition problems; haemorrhage; pressure sores; skin irritation; fungating lesions; smell; weakness and tiredness; immobility and paresis; oedema; ascites; dyspnoea; cough; hiccups; nervous and emotional problems; confusion; insomnia; disfigurement; aspects of nursing care. Part 4 Physiology of dying: causes of death; the cardiovascular system; the pulmonary system; the gastrointestinal system and renal system; the central nervous system; approaching death; signs of death; criteria for diagnosis of brain-stem death; postmortem decomposition; transplants; useful addresses; useful courses and journals; the Graseby syringe driver; pain charts.