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The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient

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Palliative Care in Oncology

Abstract

Caring for people with cancer during the dying phase of their illness is a fundamental aspect of oncology and palliative care. This chapter examines what constitutes the best care for the person dying from cancer. At this stage of someone’s life, it is vital to ensure impeccable clinical assessment, communication, spirituality and care planning in life and death. The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) aims to promote the best possible care for an individual and their relatives in the last hours and days of life. A stepwise approach is used to examine the goals of the document in initial assessment, ongoing assessment and care after death. This must all take place within a structured, comprehensive approach for continuous quality improvement in care of the dying.

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Correspondence to Andrew F. Khodabukus BSc, MBChB .

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Khodabukus, A.F., Ellershaw, J.E. (2015). The Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient. In: Alt-Epping, B., Nauck, F. (eds) Palliative Care in Oncology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46202-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46202-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-46201-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-46202-7

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