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S4-4 Palliative care and assisted dying: rethinking boundaries, reshaping practice

bmjspcare · 2026-05-26 · canonical JSON source

7 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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In jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, many palliative care services have adapted their care to support patients who request it. Drawing on international evidence and recent reviews, this presentation examines how assisted dying is being integrated into palliative care practice, with a focus on clinical realities rather than abstract debates.Most patients who choose assisted dying are already receiving palliative care, often for advanced cancer or other progressive illnesses, and typically experience complex, multidimensional symptoms. As demand grows, palliative care teams are increasingly expected to support patients with assisted dying in addition to their core responsibilities. This expanded scope places added pressure on already stretched teams and requires new approaches to workload management and clinical coordination.To meet these evolving demands, many teams have created structured care pathways, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, and improved staff readiness—including nurses, psychologists, social workers, and palliative care physicians. These teams work closely with general practitioners, organ specialists, and other professionals involved in the patient’s broader care to ensure coherent and safe management throughout the trajectory.Based on clinical experience from Switzerland and other countries, this presentation will outline three key implementation challenges:Service capacity and demand modelling, including time, staffing, and coordination pressures;Pathway integration, from early palliative engagement through to assisted dying access;Team preparedness, including training needs, procedural clarity, and emotional sustainability.Despite efforts, challenges persist. Communication with families, evolving legal frameworks, and the risk of burnout continue to impact teams. As more patients consider assisted dying, palliative care services are reshaping how care is delivered—not by changing their mission, but by adapting their structures to remain responsive, safe, and patient-centred.