Throughout the world the nature of illness is changing. People live to older ages and die later in life following chronic or progressive, rather than acute, illness. Thus palliative and terminal care are of increasing significance. The chapter outlines the principles of palliative care, describes the emotional responses to progressive and terminal illness, tackles the issues of communication and information and discusses some ethical issues in palliative care such as decisions regarding withholding or withdrawing treatments. A section is then dedicated to the challenges that families must face when confronted with a terminal illness with particular attention to bereavement and grief reactions.
Terminal and palliative care
VITERBORI, PAOLA;
2004-01-01
Abstract
Throughout the world the nature of illness is changing. People live to older ages and die later in life following chronic or progressive, rather than acute, illness. Thus palliative and terminal care are of increasing significance. The chapter outlines the principles of palliative care, describes the emotional responses to progressive and terminal illness, tackles the issues of communication and information and discusses some ethical issues in palliative care such as decisions regarding withholding or withdrawing treatments. A section is then dedicated to the challenges that families must face when confronted with a terminal illness with particular attention to bereavement and grief reactions.
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