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Thoughts on Palliative Care

There was a fine article on palliative care in the Sunay Review of the NY Times, September 7, 2014.  Entitled "When It’s the Doctor Who Can’t Let Go" this is a good introduction to the field of palliative care and, as such, will be of help to physiaians and other health care professionals as well as to patients and their families.

"Palliative care itself suffers from an identity problem, in that many people equate palliation with hospice — i.e., end of life. This mistaken association can make a palliative care consultation feel like a death sentence to even the most open-minded clinicians, patients and family members. Striving for a cure is historically seen as a unique pathway that restores health; easing suffering is a separate, non-curative path that ends with the patient dying."

Palliative Care: Introduction

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment.

Jane Brody:  Palliative Care: The Treatment that Respects Pain 12/2/2013  This is a helpful overview.

GetPalliative Care is a website that has background information, plus a provider directory of where the service is available in the U.S.

Image from NY Times December 2, 2013