Case Bank
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Terminal Discharge
Mr N was diagnosed with cancer last year and treated with chemotherapy. He was diagnosed with brain metastasis on this admission. Mr N spoke to several nurses and said he wanted to stay in hospital. He did not want to burden his relatives at home because they were busy working. When the nurses asked him if he had shared his views with his relatives he said he found this difficult. His condition deteriorated rapidly over the next few days and he lost capacity to make his own healthcare decisions. Mr N’s wife told the doctors that Mr N wished to die at home and observe Buddhist rites upon death. These rites, which include 8 hours of chanting and an 8 hour no-touch rule, would be difficult to undertake in a hospital. N’s brother and wife offered to be his caregivers. The medical social worker advised that the family were not […]