Reflections on Hope and Its Implications for End-of-Life Care

• Autores: Malcolm D. Mattes, Michelle A. Sloane
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 63, Nº. 5, 2015, págs. 993-996
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Physicians caring for individuals with life-altering, incurable illnesses often have a desire to convey a sense of hope while also helping their patients prepare for the end of life to minimize unnecessary suffering and grief. Unfortunately, in the United States, most people receive more-aggressive treatments toward the end of life than studies would suggest that they desire. This reflects the challenging task of balancing optimism and realism, and how providing a false sense of hope for a cure for too long a time while avoiding advance care planning may contribute significantly to the problem. This article explores the interplay of hope and advance care planning, and suggests a need for excellent individualized communication in the setting of advanced cancer to improve end-of-life care.