In the Midst of Life

A. Patient autonomy and cancer treatment decisions.
International Journal of Palliative Medicine
(1997); 3 (6) 317—323.
    Tschudin, V
Ethics in Nursing
(2nd Edition) (1992). Oxford: But-terworth-Heinemann.
    Vitelli, C; Cooper, K; Rogatko, A; Brennan, M (1991) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the patient with cancer.
Journal
of Clinical Oncology 9(1) 111—115.
    Willard, C. The nurse’s role as patient advocate: obligation or imposition?
Journal of Advanced Nursing
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    Willard, C. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for palliative care patients: a discussion of ethical issues
. Palliative Medicine
(2000); 14: 308-312.
    Woodrow, P. Nurse advocacy: is it in the patient’s best interests?
    British Journal of Nursing
(1997); 6 (4) 225—229
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    Younger, S J. Who defines futility?
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    Websites
    Dementia
Dementia, from NHS Choices website. Information about the disease and a short video about living with dementia. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/Pages/lntroduction.aspx
Alzheimer’s Society website: information about the different types of dementia and where to access help. http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/home_info.phpPhomepagelD=29
Alsoinformation available from BBC Health website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_dementia.shtml
British Society of Psychiatrists has a useful leaflet online: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=1427
    Cancer
Cancer Research UK website: information about different types of cancer and about present research projects: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
Macmillan Cancer Support website has a multitude of information about cancer, treatments, and cancer survivorship. http://www.macmillan.orguk/Home.aspx
For professionals: Macmillan has a very informative ‘learn zone’ website which can be accessed following this link. It’s free, but you need to register to use it. http://learnzone.macmillan.org.uk/
    Hospice care
To find your local hospice visit:
http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk/about-hospice-care/find-a-hospice/uk-hospice-and-palliative-care-services/
By typing in your postcode you can access the contact details for your closest hospice.
    Palliative care
Health talk online: Set up by the DIPEx charity, this is a very useful website both for the public and professionals, using real-life people to talk about their own stories. Some of these are to do with having a terminal illness, personal experiences of chronic illness and also mental health: http://www.healthtalkonline.org/
MND Association: helpful website for anyone living with motor neurone disease: http://www.mndassociation.org/
Heartfailure: NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Chronic kidney Failure: UK National Kidney Federation http://www.kidney.org.uk/Medical-Info/ckd-info/
The National Council for Palliative Care is a national organisation which supports people with terminal illness and professionals: http://www.ncpc.org.uk
NHS Choices: information for anyone with a palliative illness. Includes a link to the Carers Direct helpline, and information on some possible grants to help with the financial costs of caring http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/bereavement/Pages/
Grants
Marie Curie offer free support to people who want to die in their own home: http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/
    Advance decisions to refuse treatment
Useful in finding out more information about recording your own, or your patients’, wishes. http://www.adrtnhs.co.uk/
    The Mental Capacity Act
Direct.gov is a useful website for lots of different things, the mental Capacity Act being one of them:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisahledPeople/HealthAndSupport/YourRightsInHealth/DG_10016888
The Department of Justice now governs this, but information can be found from the Department of Constitutional affairs, an archive website. This link will take you to the list of booklets available for professionals and the public:
http://www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/publications.htm#booklets
    Enteral/artificialfeeding
Information about patient selection, and complications: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Enteral-Feeding.htm
For people with cancer, this site gives information on what enteral feeding is all about: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/coping-with-cancer/coping-physically/diet/managing/drip-or-tube-feeding
    Do Not Attempt Resuscitation
The Resuscitation Council (UK) guidance, which has been