Activities per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Laws that regulate healthcare practice at the end of life reflect the values of the society where they apply. Traditionally, healthcare professionals rely on their clinical knowledge to inform treatment decisions, but the extent to which the law also informs health professionals' decision-making at the end of life is uncertain.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe what healthcare professionals working in emergency departments and intensive care units know about the law that relates to end-of-life decision-making for hospitalised adults and what affects its application.
REVIEW METHOD: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews.
DATA SOURCES: Data were sourced by searching the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL [via EBSCOhost]), Nursing and Allied Health and Health and Medical Collection (via ProQuest Central), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (Embase), PubMed, PsycINFO, and HeinOnline.
RESULTS: Systematic screening of the search results and application of inclusion criteria resulted in the identification of 18 quantitative and three qualitative articles that were reviewed, summarised, and reported. Ten of the quantitative studies assessed knowledge and attitudes to law or end-of-life decision-making using hypothetical scenarios or vignettes. Qualitative studies focussed on how the law was applied when end-of-life decisions were made. End-of-life decision-making is mostly based on the clinical needs of the patient, with the law having a secondary role.
CONCLUSION: Around the world, there are significant gaps in healthcare professionals' legal knowledge. Clinical factors are considered more important to end-of-life decision-making than legal factors. End-of-life decision-making is perceived to carry legal risk, and this results in the provision of nonbeneficial end-of-life care. Further qualitative research is needed to ascertain the clinician-related factors that affect the integration of law with end-of-life decision-making.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Australian Critical Care |
Early online date | 10 Sept 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 10 Sept 2022 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Emergency department and intensive care unit health professionals' knowledge and application of the law that applies to end-of-life decision-making for adults: A scoping review of the literature'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Related Activities
- 1 Oral presentation
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Deciding when and who decides... exploring the factors, challenges and opportunities affecting emergency and intensive care unit healthcare professionals’ understanding and application of the law at end-of-life decision making
Nemat Alsaba (Speaker)
25 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Related Research Outputs
- 5 Citations
- 3 Article
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End-of-life decision-making in the emergency department and intensive care unit: Health professionals' perspectives on and knowledge of the law in Queensland
Hewitt, J., Alsaba, N., May, K., Kang, E., Cartwright, C., Willmott, L., White, B. & Marshall, A. P., 15 Feb 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA. p. 1-7 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
The epidemiology of dying within 48 hours of presentation to emergency departments: a retrospective cohort study of older people across Australia and New Zealand
Sweeny, A. L., Alsaba, N., Grealish, L., Denny, K., Lukin, B., Broadbent, A., Huang, Y-L., Ranse, J., Ranse, K., May, K. & Crilly, J., 1 Apr 2024, In: Age and Ageing. 53, 4, p. 1-12 12 p., 53.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)107 Downloads (Pure) -
The role of law in end-of-life decision-making in emergency departments and intensive care units: a retrospective review of current practice in a Queensland health service
Hewitt, J., Alsaba, N., May, K., Cartwright, C., Willmott, L., White, B. P. & Marshall, A. P., 12 Dec 2023, In: Australian Health Review. p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review