Challenges in advance care planning: the interface between explicit instructional directives and palliative care

Eastman, Peter; Ko, Danielle; Le, Brian H

doi:10.5694/mja2.50653

Topics

This case study highlights some important legal and ethical considerations related to advance care planning

A 71‐year‐old man with vascular risk factors including hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia lived at home with his wife and enjoyed reading, listening to music and discussing global issues. Immediately on disembarkation from a long flight, he experienced a sudden reduction in consciousness with accompanying right hemiplegia and neglect. He was diagnosed with a large left middle cerebral artery infarct and underwent thrombolysis. Following the procedure, he was haemodynamically unstable, with further investigation revealing massive pulmonary emboli. He was anticoagulated and his condition stabilised.

1 Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
2 University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC
3 Austin Health, Melbourne
4 Parkville Integrated Palliative Care Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC

Correspondence: brian.le@mh.org.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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