Little high-quality data available

New guidelines for end-of-life care admit that there is very little “high-quality information about palliative and end-of-life care”. The guidelines, issued by the American College of Physicians, focus on managing symptoms which might otherwise decrease quality of life for dying patients. For example, they urge physicians to regularly assess patients for pain, shortness of breath, and depression and prescribe appropriate medication. One limitation of the available knowledge about palliative care is that most studies have focused on cancer. But this information may not apply to patients dying of heart disease, lung disease or dementia. The guidelines also exclude many interventions that have not yet been adequately studied, such as nutritional support, complementary therapies, and spiritual care, without dismissing them as useless. They could be beneficial, but much more research is needed. ~ Annals of Internal Medicine, Feb 26

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Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

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