A recent study ranked the quality of hospice care around the world and placed the United Kingdom number one. The authors cited the integration of the hospice care system into the UK’s National Health Service as a major factor in the high degree of care as it provides a smooth transition from physician care to end of life preparation. Not surprisingly the developed world lead the rankings but there were some developing nations, such as Mongolia, being praised for efforts to expand access to hospice care. One cause of concern mentioned by the authors was the looming problems in China with its aging population and small families caused by the one child policy which could cause a deterioration of end of life care in the nation.
See Kashmira Gander, UK is the best place in the world to die, according to new study, Independent, October 6, 2015.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
