News: Doctors discuss end of life issues

Jonathon Hope addresses delegates.

27 July 2009

Some of the challenges of providing end of life care were acted out by a theatre group at a GMC conference in June.

Some of the challenges of providing end of life care were acted out by a theatre group at a GMC conference in June.

The play by the Dead Ernest Theatre Company, was part of the GMC’s consultative conference on draft guidance End of life treatment and care: Good practice in decision-making.

Nearly 150 people attended the event in London including doctors, nurses, patients, carers and emergency workers, to discuss and comment on the guidance and the issues that it covers.

Lady Christine Eames, chair of the GMC’s working group on the guidance said: ‘The conference is an important part of the consultation process; listening to people with personal and professional experience of the issues.’

Amongst four speakers who gave presentations from various perspectives, Mr Jonathon Hope, a patient who had four kidney transplants in 25 years, gave a moving personal account of what is most important to patients who are reaching the end of their lives.

You can listen to the presentations on the end of life care consultation page on our website.

The consultation closed on 13 July 2009. The new guidance will be issued early in 2010.

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