The decision making and transfer of critically ill adults to their preferred place of death

The Intensive Care Society is pleased to share the launch of new guidance for “The Decision Making and Transfer of Critically Ill Adults to Their Preferred Place of Death” which is designed to support healthcare professionals in navigating one of the most sensitive and important decisions in end-of-life care.

Developed by a multi-professional team from intensive care and palliative medicine, this guidance provides a clear and compassionate framework to help teams consider and facilitate transfers for critically ill patients who express a wish to die in their preferred place - whether at home or another meaningful setting.

This document acknowledges the complexity of such decisions in the critical care environment, where time pressures, clinical uncertainty, and resource limitations are daily realities. Yet even within these constraints, patients’ wishes at the end of life matter deeply. The guidance offers practical tools, clinical considerations, and multidisciplinary recommendations to help teams explore what matters most to patients and families - and to act wherever possible to honour those wishes.

Here is the link to read more and access the guideline