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<span>End of Life Issues</span>
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End of Life Issues
</h1>
<span class="alsocalled">Also called: Death and dying, Terminal care</span>
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<h3>Basics</h3>
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<li>
<a title="Go to: Start Here" href="#cat_51">Start Here</a>
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<div class="toccolumn">
<h3>Learn More</h3>
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<li>
<a title="Go to: Related Issues" href="#cat_47">Related Issues</a>
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<li>
<a title="Go to: Specifics" href="#cat_42">Specifics</a>
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<h3>Research</h3>
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<h2>Summary</h2>
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<div id="topic-summary" class="syndicate"><p>Planning for the end of life can be difficult. But by deciding what end-of-life care best suits your needs when you are healthy, you can help those close to you make the right choices when the time comes.</p>
<p>End-of-life planning usually includes making choices about the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>The goals of care (for example, whether to use certain medicines during the last days of life)</li>
<li>Where you want to spend your final days</li>
<li>Which treatments for end-of-life care you wish to receive</li>
<li>What type of <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/palliativecare.html">palliative care</a> and <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/hospicecare.html">hospice care</a> you wish to receive</li>
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<p><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/advancedirectives.html">Advance directives</a> can help make your wishes clear to your family and health care providers.</p></div>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.caregiver.org/resource/advanced-illness-holding-on-letting-go/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="100611" >Advanced Illness: Holding on and Letting Go</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Family Caregiver Alliance)</span>
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="135666" data-org="NIA">End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Institute on Aging)</span>
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/care-choices/care-fact-sheet" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="36570" data-org="NCI">End-of-Life Care for People Who Have Cancer</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Cancer Institute)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/cancer-avanzado/opciones-de-cuidado/hoja-informativa-cuidado" data-sid="101538">Spanish</a> </span>
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<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/caregivers/planning/last-days-pdq" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="75658" data-org="NCI">Last Days of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Cancer Institute)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/cancer/cancer-avanzado/cuidadores/planificacion/etapa-final-pdq" data-sid="67871">Spanish</a> </span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/end-of-life-care/nearing-the-end-of-life.html" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="113160" >Preparations as You Near the End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (American Cancer Society)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.cancer.org/es/cancer/atencion-en-la-etapa-final-de-la-vida/cuando-el-final-de-la-vida-esta-cerca.html" data-sid="102529">Spanish</a> </span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life/providing-care-and-comfort-end-life" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="68247" data-org="NIA">Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Institute on Aging)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/espanol/al-final-vida/proporcionar-cuidados-confort-al-final-vida" data-sid="153369">Spanish</a> </span>
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<a href="https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/brain-death" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="160969" >Brain Death</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (National Kidney Foundation)</span>
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.acponline.org/sites/default/files/documents/patients_families/end_of_life_issues/peace/serious_ill.pdf" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="51285" >Living Well with a Serious Illness</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (American College of Physicians)</span>
- <span class="desccode">PDF</span>
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/planning-your-own-funeral" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="108650" >Planning Your Own Funeral</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Federal Trade Commission)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/planificacion-de-su-propio-funeral" data-sid="50167">Spanish</a> </span>
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<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/shopping-funeral-services" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="43564" >Shopping for Funeral Services</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Federal Trade Commission)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/buscar-y-comparar-servicios-funebres" data-sid="112383">Spanish</a> </span>
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<li>
<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/types-funerals" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="108646" >Types of Funerals</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Federal Trade Commission)</span>
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<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/tipos-de-funerales" data-sid="124071">Spanish</a> </span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/grief-and-mourning/what-do-after-someone-dies" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="79642" data-org="NIA">What to Do after Someone Dies</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Institute on Aging)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/espanol/luto-duelo/hacer-cuando-alguien-muere" data-sid="153370">Spanish</a> </span>
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<a href="https://familydoctor.org/artificial-hydration-and-nutrition/?adfree=true" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="22600" >Artificial Hydration and Nutrition</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (American Academy of Family Physicians)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://es.familydoctor.org/hidratacion-y-nutricion-artificial/?adfree=true" data-sid="52660">Spanish</a> </span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/advanced-cancer" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10759" data-org="NCI">Coping with Advanced Cancer: Choices for Care Near the End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Cancer Institute)</span>
</span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.healthinaging.org/age-friendly-healthcare-you/care-what-matters-most/end-life-care" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="102985" >End of Life Care</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (AGS Health in Aging Foundation)</span>
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life/making-decisions-someone-end-life" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="108639" data-org="NIA">Making Decisions for Someone at the End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Institute on Aging)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/espanol/al-final-vida/entender-decisiones-sobre-atencion-medica-al-final-vida" data-sid="140546">Spanish</a> </span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/nutritional-support/nutritional-support-for-people-who-are-dying-or-have-severe-dementia" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="160970" >Nutritional Support for People Who Are Dying or Severely Demented</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Merck &amp; Co., Inc.)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/es-us/hogar/trastornos-nutricionales/apoyo-nutricional/apoyo-nutricional-para-personas-moribundas-o-con-demencia-grave" data-sid="160971">Spanish</a> </span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/aya/end-of-life" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="147046" data-org="NCI">Young People Facing End-of-Life Care Decisions</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Cancer Institute)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/tipos/adolescentes-adultos-jovenes/final-de-la-vida" data-sid="160966">Spanish</a> </span>
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<h2>Clinical Trials
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<a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=%22Terminal+Care%22&amp;aggFilters=status:not%20rec" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="73096" data-org="NIH">ClinicalTrials.gov: Terminal Care</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<img width="25" height="16" alt="From the National Institutes of Health" title="From the National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nih.png" class="imgdesc">
<span class="orgs"> (National Institutes of Health)</span>
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<h2>Journal Articles
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<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39443555" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="34103" >Article: A multicenter observational study to establish practice for circulatory death declaration...</a>
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</span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39366298" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="34103" >Article: Enhancement of perceptual and cognitive functions in near-death experience: A perspective...</a>
<span class="desc-text">
</span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39238834" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="34103" >Article: The gamma-band activity model of the near-death experience: a critique and...</a>
<span class="desc-text">
</span>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Death%22%5Bmajr%3Anoexp%5D+AND+humans%5Bmh%5D+AND+english%5Bla%5D+AND+%22last+1+Year%22+%5Bedat%5D+NOT+%28letter%5Bpt%5D+OR+case+reports%5Bpt%5D+OR+editorial%5Bpt%5D+OR+comment%5Bpt%5D%29+AND+free+full+text%5Bsb%5D+" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="34103" >End of Life Issues -- see more articles</a>
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<a href="https://allianceforcareathome.org/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="161613" >National Alliance for Care at Home</a>
<span class="desc-text">
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<li>
<a href="https://www.ninr.nih.gov/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="9178" data-org="NINR">National Institute of Nursing Research</a>
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<a href="https://www.lls.org/managing-your-cancer/end-life-care/children-and-end-life" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="160967" >Children and End of Life</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society)</span>
</span>
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<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000468.htm" data-sid="103902" >Deciding about treatments that prolong life</a>
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</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000468.htm" data-sid="103850">Spanish</a> </span>
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<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000473.htm" data-sid="103882" >Do-not-resuscitate order</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000473.htm" data-sid="103843">Spanish</a> </span>
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<li>
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000533.htm" data-sid="104708" >Palliative care - what the final days are like</a>
<span class="desc-text">
<span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span>
</span>
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000533.htm" data-sid="104735">Spanish</a> </span>
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<h2>MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA</h2>
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<li><a data-sid="103902" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000468.htm">Deciding about treatments that prolong life</a></li>
<li><a data-sid="103882" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000473.htm">Do-not-resuscitate order</a></li>
<li><a data-sid="104708" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000533.htm">Palliative care - what the final days are like</a></li>
<li><a data-sid="119686" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000848.htm">Talking with a child about a parent&#x27;s terminal illness</a></li>
<li><a data-sid="119689" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000851.htm">When your cancer treatment stops working</a></li>
<li><a data-sid="119690" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000852.htm">When your child&#x27;s cancer treatment stops working</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/hospicecare.html">Hospice Care</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/organdonation.html">Organ Donation</a></li>
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<h2>National Institutes of Health</h2>
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The primary NIH organization for research on
<span class="italic">End of Life Issues</span> is the
<a href="https://www.ninr.nih.gov/" target="TheNewWin">National Institute of Nursing Research</a>
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