Reference no: EM133308545

A 66-year-old woman and her two daughters present themselves at the hospice. The woman's attending physician suggests that she investigate hospice as a health care alternative. The woman has breast cancer with bilateral mastectomies and recently was found to have metastases to the liver. Her physician stated that she could have additional chemotherapy but that her liver cancer may not respond. At this point, other than mild pain, she is able to get around relatively well. She is not sure she wants to have additional chemotherapy because it made her terribly ill the first time.

Her daughters and their families (both have two children all under the age of 10) are her only close relatives. She has been divorced since her first mastectomy. One daughter lives 5 minutes away, the other daughter lives 40 minutes away. Upon further discussion with the daughters, you learn that the first daughter wants only what her mother wants and will support whatever decision she chooses. The second daughter wants her mother to have the additional chemotherapy no matter what, and cannot understand why anyone would "just give up".

You are the admission representative.

What would you tell this woman and her daughters about hospice?

What problems do you anticipate for this family?

How would you respond to the second daughter's comment that hospice is "just giving up"?

Is this patient appropriate for hospice?