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

Abstract

Purpose: 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.

Method: 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.

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

Conclusion: 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.