Both Health Affairs and AMA Journal of Ethics devoted special issues to Advanced Illness in July 2017
A testament to the recognition these important topics deserve, the July 2017 issue of the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics is devoted to Quality of Life in Dementia, and likewise, the July issue of Health Affairs is focused on Advanced Illness & End-Of-Life Care.
Health Affairs, in their online blog, commented on the inspiration for this special issue ,
“The July issue of Health Affairs explores topics related to advanced illness and end-of-life care. Often when needs are as much social and spiritual as they are medical, people are confronted with a fragmented, rescue-driven health care system that produces miraculous results but also disastrous failures.”
The introduction to the AMA Journal of Ethics issue states,
“Responding to dementia is a public health priority of the World Health Organization, as the number of people living with dementia is expected to triple by mid-century. Although dementia is a highly disabling neurocognitive disorder, and many people with dementia rely on surrogates’ involvement in decision making as the disease progresses, evidence also suggests that many dementia patients can reliably articulate their values, preferences, and desires. As a result, clinicians have obligations to ensure that people with dementia can maintain active, central roles in making decisions about their care and well-being. This issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics considers strategies for humanizing and supporting people with dementia so that they can continue to live lives consistent with their needs and preferences, even as the disease progresses.”
Recommended: Dying on Her Terms (Getting it Right at the End of Life) from Health Affairs, and Strategies for Building Trust with the Caregiver of a Patient with End-Stage Dementia from Journal of Ethics.
The July 2017 Issues:
» Health Affairs: Advanced Illness & End-Of-Life Care (limited access)
» AMA Journal of Ethics: Quality of Life in Dementia
Related:
» Health Affairs blog post: Health Affairs’ July Issue, by Lucy Larner, July 5, 2017.
» End-Of-Life Policy Solutions: A Cautionary Note, by Vincent Mor, July 10, 2017.