Recommendations to improve the quality of terminal care

The newly published recommendations for terminal care aim at making terminal care more systematic as well as guiding the terminal care practices throughout the country. They are intended for use in all the social and health care units. The recommendations for terminal care focus on the care of a dying individual, the planning and organisation of the care as well as the competence of staff.

"The previous recommendations were compiled by Etene (the National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics) in 2004. The now published recommendations have a more comprehensive approach to terminal care. The goal is to have an impact on the way local governments and hospital districts organise terminal care. Every dying individuals has the right to high-quality terminal care," Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko maintained in the release event on Thursday 23 September.

According to the Minister, the recommendations are also supported by legislation. "Parliament is currently discussing a bill on a new health care act, which highlights alleviation of suffering in all treatment of disease and in all phases of treatment, including care of dying patients and terminal care. This is the first time alleviation of suffering has been included in legislation."