Scotland to debate end of life care

Carers, patients and clinicians in Scotland are to give the GMC their views on new guidelines for doctors treating patients at the end of their life.

Carers, patients and clinicians in Scotland are to give the General Medical Council (GMC) their views on new guidelines for doctors treating patients at the end of their life.

The GMC is holding a series of events across Scotland next week as part of a UK wide roadshow to ensure that everyone from doctors to community groups has a chance to have their say on the GMC’s draft guidance, End of life treatment and care: good practice in decision making before it is issued to Scotland’s 19,500 doctors next year.

The events taking place in Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow will bring together patient and faith groups, nursing staff, doctors, academics and medical students. Topics for debate include:

• providing support to patients, carers and their family
• managing pain and symptoms
• the importance of team working in delivering good quality care
• how medical students learn about care at the end of life
• dealing with advance requests for, and refusals of, treatment

Anyone can have their say on the consultation. Answer questions online at:  www.gmc-uk.org/end_of_life_care

Jane O’Brien GMC Assistant Director of Standards and Fitness to Practise said:

“We want to encourage everyone to give the GMC their views on this difficult subject which most of us will have to face at some point in our lives, whether as a patient, carer or health professional. We are holding meetings across the UK to ensure that everyone has a chance to have their say on the guidance.

“Every day, patients and carers all over Scotland face making difficult decisions with their doctors about end of life care. Our guidance supports doctors by setting out the ethical and legal principles that should underpin practice in this area and lets patients know what they can expect from their doctor.”

Professor Jim McKillop, Deputy Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow said:

“The challenges faced every day by patients, their families and doctors around end of life care are complex and emotive. Clear guidance which has been developed after extensive work and wide consultation will help those faced with these difficult decisions to come to an ethical and legal decision which serves the best interests of the individual patient. Medical students will benefit from reflecting on the implications of the guidance for their future clinical practice.”

Roy Kilpatrick, Chief Executive HIV Scotland said:

“HIV Scotland welcomes the GMC consultation. Deaths from HIV are thankfully fewer than before, but many of the concerns of patients and carers remain every bit as real. At the very heart of the best care for those going through the terminal stage in an illness is communication and full involvement in decisions. Respect for our wishes when we all come to die is a considerable support for everyone involved and these events, which aim to gain the views of the public in Scotland, are a major step towards good end of life care.”

The guidance is expected to come into force in Spring 2010.