Palliative care, beyond medication
Palliative care, which is another term for the care that a dying patient receives, usually involves the provision of immediate comfort as well as treating palliative medical issues.
The medical Palliative care available to a terminally ill patient today is generally efficient and successful in terms of helping such patients live relatively longer. In order to make sure that good palliative care is provided, there are a few points to consider along with certain obstacles to get over.
The most significant point that can help a dying patient is for the palliative specialist to pay attention to some goals that the patient wishes to achieve. These goals can often be anticipated by all those who are involved in the palliative care.
The patient him/herself must also let others know about those goals, discuss and revise them regularly and in time. Such communication with family, friend and the palliative care team, can certainly avoid unnecessary suffering and bring along a peaceful death. Relief from painful symptoms and being involved in the decisions to be made regarding their palliative care whenever possible, are only two examples of those goals.
Another essential matter that needs to be dealt with very carefully is the answer to certain questions that are automatically raised by the prospect of death. A dying individual will be faced with questions regarding the meaning of their life and what is going to happen after death. Some people may be quite confident in this regard thanks to their spiritual and religious backgrounds and traditions. But many others look to their family or their palliative care team and specialists for a sense of meaning.
And finally, a dying patient needs to be reassured that the symptoms will never be overwhelming. Initial palliative treatment usually comes after severe symptoms and the fear that a symptom may worsen can be more paralyzing than the symptom itself. So, reassuring the patient that the treatment is available and effective is usually what a patient needs. Treating the symptom, which in many cases equals pain management, can be a relief from suffering when the symptom is too severe.
There are, however, a few concerns regarding quality palliative care that need to be noted. The most common concern is the financial one as the financial coverage can be an issue in many palliative cases. The second is the legal and ethical concern.
Thank you
Dr. Sahiholnasab
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