The paramedic as an end of life specialist

This chapter aims to orientate the paramedic towards a deeper awareness of the circumstances around attending patients in receipt of palliative care and care for patients at the end of their life. While palliative care may be relevant to all healthcare professionals, it is the extended role of the paramedic as specialist practitioner in this field that will be considered here, including clinical decision making at the end of life. Case studies will be used to illustrate two scenarios followed by discussion using related evidence. There will be acknowledgement of the developing complexity of the paramedic role over time and identification of selected national and international research. The chapter ends with a reminder of the positive impact paramedics can have on palliative and dying patients drawing upon their expertise