End-of-life care in need of update
With medical treatment constantly evolving, an advance care plan can be too fixed in time for health professionals put on the spot
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Philip Yap and Lawrence Tan For The Straits Times
An elderly man with a blood malignancy recently came under our care. He had declined all treatments and had documented his wishes in an advance care plan (ACP). Such planning offers people the opportunity to plan their future care and support, including medical treatment, while they have the capacity to do so.
His planning also included a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. He was still well, until an abrupt admission for breathlessness.