Vorausschauende Behandlungsplanung und Therapiebegrenzung

Zusammenfassung

Entscheidungen zur Therapiebegrenzung sind wichtig, um eine Übertherapie am Lebensende zu verhindern. Sie gehen heute mehr als der Hälfte der erwarteten Todesfälle voraus, werden aber vorher nicht immer mit den Patienten besprochen.

Grund hierfür ist, dass selten Gespräche stattfinden, die Entscheidungen am Lebensende vorbereiten und dabei Patientenpräferenzen für die letzte Lebensphase in Erfahrung bringen. Dabei gibt es mittlerweile eine belastbare Evidenz dafür, dass solche Gespräche die Lebensqualität der Patienten verbessern, Angst und Depression reduzieren und dem Patienten eine realistischere Einschätzung seiner Erkrankungssituation ermöglichen, was wiederum Voraussetzung für gemeinsame Entscheidung zur Therapiebegrenzung ist.

In diesem Artikel wird der Begriff „Therapiebegrenzung“ definiert und seine Rechtfertigung aus medizinethischer Sicht begründet. Vor allem aber werden die Ursachen benannt, die derzeit in der medizinischen Versorgung Hinderungsgründe dafür sind, dass eine vorausschauende Behandlungsplanung und Gespräche zur Therapiebegrenzung selten erfolgen. Abschließend werden Lösungsansätze zur Verbesserung der Situation mit ganz praktischen Vorschlägen vorgestellt.

Abstract

Decisions to limit treatment are important in order to avoid overtreatment at the end of life. They proceed more than half of expected deaths in Europe and the US, but are not always communicated with the patient in advance. One reason for non-involvement is that conversations that prepare patients for end-of-life decisions and work out their preferences do not take place on a regular basis. At the same time there is growing evidence that such communication improves patients’ quality of life, reduces anxiety and depression and allows patients to develop a realistic understanding of their situation – which in turn is a prerequisite for shared decision making about limiting treatment.

In this paper we define „treatment limitation“ and explain the medical ethics perspective. The main focus, however, is on the causes that hinder advanced care planning and conversations about limiting treatment in the care of patients with advanced disease. Finally the evidence for approaches to improve the situation is presented with concrete suggestions for solutions.

Schlüsselwörter

Entscheidungen am Lebensende - Therapiebegrenzung - Kommunikation - vorausschauende Behandlungsplanung - Medizinethik - Psychoonkologie

Key words

decisions near the end of life - limiting treatment - communication - advanced care planning - medical ethics - psycho-oncology

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