Vignette 1 End stage dementia
| Doctor | Reasons | |
|---|---|---|
| *The responses to the vignettes which reflect ethical rather than medical reasoning. | ||
| GP | ||
| Admit | 1 | Terminally ill and will need hospital care |
| NH care | 15 | 9 thought adequate treatment could be given in the NH |
| 4 thought quality of life was reason not to refer* | ||
| 2 considered the patient to be terminally ill | ||
| Unsure | 1 | Considered this an ethical dilemma* |
| Geriatrician | ||
| Admit | 2 | 1 felt the decision needs be made in a hospital context |
| 1 thought the patient may recover with IV antibiotics* | ||
| NH care | 11 | 6 thought adequate care could be given in the NH |
| 1 considered quality of life* and terminal disease | ||
| 4 considered the patient to be terminally ill | ||
| Unsure | 5 | 1 thought insufficient information was given |
| 3 indicated a need to discuss this with the family | ||
| 1 thought it depended on whether the Home could provide symptomatic care | ||