Palliative Care: Transforming the Care of Serious Illness: 33 (Public Health/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Anthology)

Palliative care, according to the text, is increasingly integrated with all of medicine and is broadening beyond the hospice setting. As a textbook, or a medical reference manual, the book is appropriate. But, for general reading and an accurate picture for what actually happens in most medical delivery settings, it is lacking. The opiate death affliction and the benzodiazepine prescribing lack of precaution has poisoned the atmosphere for prescriptive palliative care for many years into the future. In fact the new hysteria initiating prescriber fear leaves many patients suffering. The heightened pharmacological conservatism also leaves valuable treatment modes not distributed, as with Ketamine. The extensive treatment of the palliative care subject in the book, still fails to address the role of politics in medical treatment and its reasoned judgment of the close interaction between doctor and patient.

This is a detailed walk through healthcare policy as it relates to palliative care, a book that stimulates discussion. I remain hopeful our society can evolve into a culture of embracing end of life care by addressing pain and suffering, as well as patient's real wishes and away from our current focus on aggressive treatments that simply prolong their dying.

Just what I needed to get started in this exciting area.

arrived as promised, thanks!

A great book about palliative care! Thank you!