A Literature Review on How Palliative Care Addresses Physical and Existential Suffering in Symptomatic and Terminally Ill Patients
Suraj Murugarajan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.452Keywords:
Translational Medical Sciences, palliative care, hospice care, sufferingAbstract
Palliative care and hospice care are medical specialties focused on enhancing the quality of life and alleviating physical, mental, and spiritual suffering among patients with advanced and/or terminal illnesses. These two fields of medicine were initially conceived about 120 years ago, and the widespread implementation of these fields into the global practice of medicine only began about 70 years ago. These fields have continued to grow worldwide, as has the research on their effect on the physical and existential well-being of patients who are terminally ill. Physical symptoms are generally relieved through various medications, but other non-pharmaceutical therapies are available. Doctors and nurses working in palliative care are key figures in addressing existential suffering, and other therapies are also available. The main focus of this literature review is to show people a newer field of medicine that is not being discussed as widely as it could be.
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