Legal issues in end-of-life care for speech-language pathologists and social workers: A scoping review

End-of-life law governs end-of-life decision-making in clinical practice. There has been little analysis of the specific legal issues relevant to allied health professionals working in end-of-life care.

A scoping review was undertaken to identify and examine the extent, range, and nature of literature on the legal issues relevant to end-of-life practice for Australian speech-language pathologists and social workers, including current gaps. Literature was identified by searching six electronic databases, Google Scholar, the websites of relevant professional organisations and State/Territory health departments, scanning reference lists, and drawing on existing knowledge. Data charting and thematic analysis of findings was performed.

Twenty documents were included, spanning various document types. Most focused on adult clinical practice. Documents demonstrated that the two professions encounter similar legal issues.

Key gaps exist in the literature. Findings will inform these professionals of the legal issues relevant to their clinical practice and inform the development of further resources.