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Exposing myths about hospice palliative care 
Started by KathCull_admin
04 May 2014, 4:18 AM

The Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association is using the theme, "Busting the myths" for National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2014. One definition of a myth is 'a widely held but false idea or belief'. Here's one myth or false idea or belief I have heard more than once:

Myth: When treatment is no longer able to cure or control disease, people may think that being placed on the palliative or hospice program means, "There is nothing more they can do for me."  

Fact: There is so much that can be done.  The palliative care program is made up of many skilled clinicians who can offer support during palliative and end of life care decisions. Doctors, nurses, spiritual care providers, psychosocial clinicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists can come together to support the patient, family and friends. 

What other myths need exposing?

Katherine 

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Reply by Digger
12 May 2014, 4:17 PM

I'm not sure if this is a myth but it surprises me how many care-givers and family equate care giving with eating.

The VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking) is something i see as a part of the natural end of life. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine where nurses who patients choose this reported high proportions of 'good deaths'.

Death often follows in two weeks or less of stopping food intake. The body, in most cases, cannot digest or use the food where it sits the system to cause problems, such as constipation or the need for a diaper.

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