Aminoff Suffering Syndrome: A Challenge for Medical and Nursing Staff during End-of-Life Care: Open Letter and Proposals

The diagnosis of Aminoff Suffering Syndrome in advanced dementia determined by measuring the
suffering level of patients according to the Mini Suffering State Examination (MSSE) scale—facilitates
acceleration and intensity of care by the nursing staff in order to prevent and relieve suffering. Relief
of Suffering Units for patients with Aminoff Suffering Syndrome should be an integral part of any
medical department or nursing home that specializes in caring for elderly people. Aminoff Suffering
Syndrome at the end of life could, and should be diagnosed, prevented and diminished. The treatment
of patients with Aminoff Suffering Syndrome at the end of life is a genuine challenge for medical and
nursing personnel. Our proposals for further experimental studies at the end of life are the diagnosis
of Aminoff Suffering Syndrome in dying patients with cancer, AIDS, cardiac, pulmonary, kidney, liver
and other terminal diseases. We recommend that such studies should be performed at the St
Christopher's Hospice and all other settings.