Quality of Life for Patient and Caregiver

Prognosis is variable but for patients with fibrosis and for cirrhosis or signs of hepatic encephalopathy it is guarded. Patients with cirrhosis, coagulopathies, hypoglycemia, and hypoalbuminemia usually die within a month ofdiagnosis. For patients with mild to moderate chronic hepatitis the mean survival time is around 20-30 months (Raffan et al. 2009).

Quality of life includes free of pain, not vomiting, reasonable appetite, and reasona­ble amount of energy. If the patient continues to vomit, remains anorexic, or shows signs of end-stage liver failure (severe ascites, hepatic encephalopathy) then the decision for eutha­nasia should be considered especially if there is no or a poor response to medication.