VIDEO: End-of-Life Counseling Explained Properly

By GottaLaff



A Twitter pal of mine sent me this video featuring her husband, Dr. Robert Fried. Please get this around, since so many people seem to need to be educated in an informative, rational, gentle way, about palliative care:

Serious illness can pose many challenges for patients and their families: pain and other symptoms, uncertainty about goals of care, difficult choices regarding the type of treatment to receive. Palliative care focuses on supporting those who are struggling with such difficulties.

Specialists from the NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) Palliative Care Service are available at the request of attending physicians to assist in coordinating and managing the care of hospitalized patients. This may include:

• Helping with strategies for easing pain and other symptoms
• Promoting communication between patient, family, and medical team about the goals and coordination of care
• Participating in difficult decisions about the use of medical procedures and technology
• Helping choose the most appropriate setting for a patient to receive care

[...] “An important part of what we offer is our time. Our job is to be infinitely patient. We will s all voices are heard and that patients and their family members get the support they needpend as much time as necessary to make sure.”

- Robert Fried, MD, Medical Director, NorthShore Palliative Care Service

More of this composed, reasonable, compassionate communication, please... as opposed to this:

H/t: mpf2011