Conclusions
- Most hospices are using the DoLS legislation only when a patient needs restraint and not when they lose capacity at the end of life – in accordance with the advice from the Department of Health and the Law Society
- A small number of hospices are being more legalistic.
- The discussions about the legalisation have shown issues within multidisciplinary teams – particularly the lack of trust in medical staff. The changes in team dynamics may be harmful
- The use of DoLS at the end of life may cause delay and distress to families and these deaths will be recorded as “death in state detention”
- There is an urgent need for a change in the law to overcome this unintended consequence