endoflife

End of life (often abbreviated EOL) is a term used to describe the final phase in the life cycle of a person or an object. In healthcare, end-of-life care denotes medical and supportive care provided when treatment aims to maximize comfort and quality of life rather than cure disease. This includes palliative care, hospice services, symptom management, and advance directives, as well as discussions about goals of care, patient autonomy, and decisions in partnership with family and clinicians.

In technology and business, EOL marks the point at which a product is no longer sold or supported by the manufacturer. Software may stop receiving updates and security patches; hardware may lose repair options. Organizations plan for migration to newer versions, data transfer, and decommissioning to minimize risk and ensure continuity of operations. Warranties, licensing, and service agreements often change at EOL.

Ethical and regulatory considerations accompany EOL in both domains. In healthcare, respecting patient preferences, ensuring access to appropriate palliative services, and managing sensitive communications are central. In tech, responsible disposal, privacy protection, and compliance with data handling rules are important during decommissioning.

Planning and governance: end-of-life processes typically involve documentation, stakeholder coordination, and timelines to facilitate a safe transition, whether providing comfort and support at the end of life or transitioning users to supported alternatives.