Palliative Care
Symptom control is a responsibility in every patient case. Hospice is the last phase of this responsibility. When the decision is made to forego life-sustaining treatments, comfort measures should be continued. It may become necessary to provide treatments (including narcotics) with the sole purpose of alleviating symptoms and suffering, even at the risk of accelerating or contributing to death. When the decision is made to forego life-sustaining treatments, the emotional, physical, and spiritual care of the patient should continue. Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments in no way implies withholding or withdrawing care for the patient. Maintaining the patient’s dignity is paramount.