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Palliative Wound Care at the End of Life

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships (CP3)

Alexis D. Bakos, PhD, MPH, RN, C

Office of Extramural Programs at the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health (NINR/NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland

Ann O’Mara, PhD, MPH, RN, AOCN

National Cancer Institute

Christine T. Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN

Division of Nursing, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, Steinhardt School

Wound care, a form of palliative care, supports the health care needs of dying patients by focusing on alleviating symptoms. Although wound care can be both healing and palliative, it can impair the quality of the end of life for the dying if it is done without proper consideration of the patient’s wishes and best interests. Wound care may be optional for dying patients. This article will discuss the ethical responsibilities and challenges of providing wound care for surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, and wounds associated with cancer as well as wound care in home health compared to end of life.

Key Words: palliative • end of life • quality • ethical

Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 17, No. 3, 196-202 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1084822304271815


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