12 October marked the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. In was in this context that the non-profit organisation Wonschkutsch, Luxembourg's association for palliative medicine (ALMP) and the association of nurse anesthetists (Aliar) organised a conference about palliative care in Luxembourg. More specifically, the conference revolved around the question who can decide for a patient receiving palliative care in case the individual is not able to decide for him or herself.
A palliative care law exists in Luxembourg but many critical questions still remain unanswered. From a juridical viewpoint, it is always advisable to contact a doctor who takes the decision whether or not a terminally ill patient keeps receiving medical treatment.
At the same time, respecting the wishes of the patients constitutes a key principle in palliative care.
Video in Luxembourgish.
