Should doctors be required to inform patients of their palliative care rights?

kevinmd.com
should-doctors-be-required-to-inform-patients-of-their-palliative-care-rights

I overheard a colleague admit an 84-year-old woman to the hospital from the emergency department for a sizable mass in her uterus — no doubt, cancerous. I pictured a frail woman who’d been suffering for a while and was afraid to tell anyone about it, fearing the worst. Like most, she preferred to ignore it rather than have others tell her what to do. Having fallen ill, she risked losing the ability to make her own medical decisions. Medical specialists will now decide what her options are and default to the best interest of saving her life. Sadly, she’ll likely become another victim maligned by the healthcare system and then laid to rest.

Read More