Use of Oxygen at the End of Life: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices in Wisconsin.

Introduction: Oxygen therapy for the management of breathlessness remains controversial and little information is available regarding the practice of using oxygen at end of life. Oxygen use in end-of-life care is increasingly being questioned, while the use of oxygen for routine "comfort care" at end of life continues.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of oxygen at the end of life and to understand its role in contemporary palliative care practice.

Use of oxygen at the end of life: on what basis are decisions made?

Discussing and conducting research on end-of-life issues is often difficult. However, it is important to initiate a dialogue about various topics surrounding death and dying. This paper looks at the available scientific literature relating to oxygen use at the end of life, describes associated attitudes and beliefs, and presents some brief examples of institutional practices.