Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
---|---|
Patient is admitted to one of the participating hospices | Patient shows signs of active respiratory infection |
Patient is aware that the admission will be up to death | Patient has a tracheostomy or tracheal cannula |
Patient’s life expectancy at admission is at least 3 days | Patient uses systemic anticholinergic drug(s) or octreotide (at admission or when the dying phase starts) |
Patient shows no signs of disturbed consciousness | Patient has death rattle grade 1 or higher on the scale of Back at the start of the dying phase. |