End-of-life care in hospitalized adults with complex congenital heart disease: care delayed, care denied.

Adults with congenital heart disease represent a growing patient population. Notwithstanding dramatic improvements in survival and life expectancy over recent decades, many of these patients remain at risk of premature death from progressive heart disease and would benefit from the principles of palliative and end-of-life care. Data on end-of-life care in this patient group are, however, lacking.

End-of-life in adults with congenital heart disease: a call for early communication.

Background: We investigated preferences of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and their health care providers regarding end-of-life (EOL) communication.

Methods: Adult CHD outpatients and health care providers completed surveys about preferences for and experiences with EOL communication. Responses were compared between patients and providers.

Involvement of family physicians in the care of cancer patients seen in the palliative Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program.

Purpose: It is important for cancer patients to maintain continuity of care with their family physician (FP) while being followed at the cancer center. The primary objective of this study was to determine the perception of patients seen in the palliative Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program (RRRP) on FP involvement in their cancer care. Secondary objectives were to identify factors predicting for perceived FP involvement in patient cancer care.