An exploratory study of palliative care in bone marrow transplant patients

Quality of life - as opposed to quantity of life - raises important issues for all concerned. The legal and moral issues surrounding death, and our new abilities to delay it, are discussed frequently in the press and in professional journals. It was therefore felt important within an acute bone marrow transplant unit to identify the factors which would be considered important in palliative care for post bone marrow transplant patients, with specific reference to quality of life. A questionnaire was designed to address certain issues surrounding the withdrawal of active treatment for this group of patients. The questionnaire content was derived from past experiences of caring for patients where death was imminent. It focuses on issues relating to patient advocacy, what is perceived as a good quality of life and the psychological implications for all concerned. This paper reports on a small exploratory study which aims to highlight key issues surrounding the withdrawal of active treatment when palliative care and symptom control take precedence.