Session 5a: The End of Life – Essentials
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Distinguish between palliative and curative care
Identify the various clinical and psychosocial services available to dying patients and their families
Describe the hospice movement, its services and referral indications
Describe the clinical management of death and dying as it pertains to pain control and other comfort measures like hydration and nutritional support
2. Readings
Fallon M. Hanks G. Cherny N. Principles of control of cancer pain . BMJ. 332(7548):1022-4, 2006 Apr 29.
Morrison RS. Meier DE. Clinical Clinical practice. Palliative care. New England Journal of Medicine. 350(25):2582-90, 2004 Jun 17.
3. Additional Resources
Chochinov HM. Dying, dignity, and new horizons in palliative end-of-life care. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 56(2):84-103; quiz 104-5, 2006 Mar-Apr.
Care of the Dying Patient . Merck Manual of Geriatrics