- Kate Dawson, general practitioner, clinical lead community hospital
- susannah.dawson@nhs.scot
As a GP, I regularly work in a small community hospital. We provide palliative care for patients in their last days—often patients we know well. I welcomed this article covering the uncertainties around harm and benefit for clinically assisted hydration.1
One matter that was not covered was the difficulty of maintaining intravenous access, and the harm relating to cannulation. Tissued drips, bruising, risk of infection, and the pain of re-cannulation can all bring sadness and traumatic memories for the patients and their families. There is scope for qualitative research into the psychological impact of clinically assisted hydration in these last days of life.