Terminikää

Terminikää is a Finnish term used to describe the terminal phase of a serious illness, most often cancer, in which disease-directed, curative treatment is no longer feasible. Although not a formal medical diagnosis, the concept is widely used in clinical practice, patient information materials, and public discussion to denote the end point of an illness trajectory and the shift to comfort-oriented care.

In the terminal phase, prognosis is variable and often uncertain, ranging from days to months. Symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and cognitive changes are addressed through palliative care strategies. The aim is to relieve suffering, support basic needs, and maintain dignity. Early integration of palliative care, advance care planning, and discussion of goals of care are recommended where possible.

Care may be provided at home, in hospitals, hospices, or dedicated palliative units, with a multidisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, and spiritual care providers. Families are supported in decision-making and in coordinating practical and emotional needs.

Terminikää raises ethical questions about end-of-life decisions, resuscitation preferences, and the place of care. In Finland, advance directives are supported, and euthanasia is not legal; palliative sedation may be considered under professional guidelines and legal frameworks.

Overall, terminikää is a framework used in Finnish health care and discourse to discuss the transition from curative treatment to comfort-focused care at the end of life.