When Hope Is All There Is Left

One particular patient who was facing the fact that she would die from cancer reveals an important lesson for the oncologist about listening and caring. Medical oncologists have a role beyond offering new treatments to patients with incurable disease: the role of supporter, and of witness, supporting a patient, especially in the last stages of illness, when hope is all there is left

Reflections on ethical issues in palliative care for patients with heart failure

In a paper produced by a European Association for Palliative Care taskforce, Manuel Martínez-Sélles and colleagues discuss the needs of patients with end-stage heart failure as they receive palliative care, highlighting the importance of medical teams initiating timely discussions of a range of end-of-life issues at various points in the progression of the disease.Sin financiación0.186 SJR (2017) Q3, 16/27 Medical and Surgical Nursing; Q4, 14/15 Oncology (nursing)UE