Document 0363
 DOCN  M9590363
 TI    Patients who express a wish to die: how does the palliative care
       physician approach such requests?
 DT    9509
 AU    Glare P; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:129 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291736
 AB    A small percentage of the approximately 1000 patients referred to the
       Central Sydney Area Palliative Care Service (based at Royal Prince
       Alfred Hospital) each year express a wish to die on first medical
       consultation. Many change their attitude to their lives in the course of
       subsequent palliative care interventions. Between September 1992 and
       August 1993, 24 such requests, including 4 from patients with HIV/AIDS,
       were received from 870 new referrals. This paper will outline (1) the
       demographic and clinical features of the patients; (2) the apparent
       basis for the requests; (3) the interventions made by the palliative
       care service; (4) the outcomes of these interventions; (5) the ethical
       principles which influence clinical decision-making in such situations.
       Case histories of HIV patients will be presented that illustrate some of
       these points.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY  *Attitude to
       Death  Decision Making  Ethics, Medical  Human  New South Wales
       Palliative Treatment/*PSYCHOLOGY  *Physician-Patient Relations  Referral
       and Consultation  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).