Comments | Decisions at the end of life: have we come of age? full free access - open for commentary

Decisions at the end of life: have we come of age?

Linda Emanuel and Karen Glasser Scandrett

BMC Medicine 2010, 8:57doi:10.1186/1741-7015-8-57

Blog addressing educational, research and genetics needs in ovarian cancer/related populations

(Commentary) Sandi Pniauskas (19 October 2010) Ovarian Cancer and Us
Congratulations to the authors for addressing the issue of changing values and needs of patients at the close of life. Most North American studies on this topic err in their original suppositions regarding the preferred place of death. Generally the focus has been institutional and cost based as opposed to the values and ethics of yes, human dignity in dying. Specific to the needs of oncology patients/families, it is often disturbing to view reports asking citizens where they wish to die when we should know and understand that this answer cannot be of any value until those patients and families are 'in the moment'. The moment-to-moment changes in physical and emotional changes in cancer patients/families and all of the psycho-physio changes require that our systems adapt. Numerous real life examples of institutional/provider interference in the wishes of the dying are disturbingly unconscionable. The question which needs to be addressed is: 'Who's on 'first'?" Having witnessed circumstances where best practices were not followed in favour of cost analyses, we have to ask ourselves who will say no to money before suffering?
Competing interests
ovarian cancer survivor, Lynch Syndrome

Gender-Related Needs and Preferences in Cancer Care Indicate the Need for an Individualized Approach to Cancer Patients

"This study explored the impact of gender on cancer patients' needs and preferences, and found that, of all the patient- and disease-related factors, gender was the most important independent predictor of patient preferences."

(" gender was more important than type of cancer")