The palliative caregiver shines a balanced and soft compassionate light

I never realized the true meaning of palliative care amidst the harried practice of emergency medicine. The pressure being placed on me to do more often becomes the same expectation I place on patients to receive more treatment. Gloria, the wife of my patient with terminal mesothelioma, shed a light on palliative care for me with the insightful words, “We know that there is no cure — we just want to even things out and buy a little more time for Andy.” This was a reasonable directive: Take a breath, ease the situation, create a smooth transition and offer some peace of mind. The art of palliative medicine is the spiritual practice of balancing yin and yang with time and money. While receiving palliative care, patients must determine how time and money will be spent. Andy was thankful for having earned great health care benefits from many years of hard work, but was well aware that more time in the hospital would require additional co-pays and eventually deplete his nest egg. He wished to even things out regarding Gloria’s financial security and valued that time was of the essence: time at home weighed against staying in the hospital. Palliative care emphasizes shared decision-making, balancing physicians’ recommendations with patients’ preferences. The palliative caregiver is mindful that harmony exists when free choice is given without condemnation, evenly advocating for the yang assertion of self-determination alongside the yin acceptance of appropriate care...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Palliative care Source Type: blogs