The process of dying and the discussion of prognosis

Spiritual or religious beliefs

What dying might be like

How long the patient has to live

Getting sicker

Future treatment decisions

Preferences for life sustaining treatments, such as intubation, tracheostomy, oxygen, tube feeding, intravascular fluids and hospital care

The possibility of an intensive care unit admission

The intubation procedure

The patient's inability to speak or to eat while being ventilated

The likelihood of death if mechanical ventilation was not performed

The death rate associated with mechanical ventilation