46 research outputs found
Palliative medicine in Croatia ā need for implementation in the health care system
Palijativna medicina predstavlja jednu od novijih subspecijalistiÄkih grana moderne medicine (prvenstveno onkologije, nefrologije, neurologije i anesteziologije). Glavno srediÅ”te interesa palijativne medicine skrb je za terminalno oboljele bolesnike, odnosno bolesnike u zavrÅ”nom stadiju bolesti, gdje klasiÄna, kurativna medicina svojim dijagnostiÄko-terapijskim kao i znanstvenoātehnoloÅ”kim pristupom viÅ”e ne može vratiti bolesnika (pacijenta) u stanje zdravlja, odnosno odsustva bolesti. Palijativna medicina obuhvaÄa tri podruÄja: smirivanje simptoma, psihosocijalnu podrÅ”ka Å”tiÄenicima i njihovim njegovateljima te etiÄke probleme vezane uz kraj života.
Dostupnost palijativne skrbi mora se osnivati na potrebama i ne treba je ograniÄavati na tip bolesti, geografsku lokaciju ili socioekonomski status onoga koji takvu skrb treba.Palliative medicine is one of the brand new specializations in modern medicine, primarily in oncology, neurology and anesthesiology. The aim of palliative medicine is to care for the terminally ill, in the moment when the currative medicine could not effort with disease even with high tech or science achievements. Palliative medicine includes three fields: settling the symptoms, psychosocial support and end-of-life ethics.
The accessibility of palliative care must be based on the needs and must not be limited only on the type of disease, geographic location or socio-economy status of the terminally ill
Quality of life disorder after mastectomy for breast cancer and the body image changes
Cilj: Utvrditi stupanj kvalitete života kod bolesnica nakon uÄinjene mastektomije zbog tumora dojke i zavrÅ”enog onkoloÅ”kog tretmana.
Metode: Prospektivna studija provedena je na Jedinici palijativne njege Univerzitetskog kliniÄkog centra Tuzla, Bosna i Hercegovina, u trajanju od svibnja 2006. do svibnja 2007. godine. Studija je obuhvatila 35 mastektomiranih bolesnica s tumorom dojke, koje su zavrÅ”ile specifiÄni onkoloÅ”ki tretman. Za procjenu kvalitete života koriÅ”tena je SF-36 skala. Podaci su statistiÄki obraÄeni T-testom i Wilcoxonovim testom. StatistiÄki znaÄajnom razlikom smatran je p < 0.05. Prvi test uÄinjen je prilikom prve posjete bolesnica u jedinicu palijativne njege (dnevni hospicij), a drugi test 12 tjedana poslije.
Rezultati: Pri prvom testiranju ispitanica srednja vrijednost ukupne kvalitete života iznosila je 0.39, Å”to se prema skali kvalitete života ocjenjuje srednje dobrom kvalitetom života. Ukupno 31 bolesnica imala je sukladno skali SF-36 srednje dobru kvalitetu života, dvije bolesnice dobru, a dvije su bolesnice svoju kvalitetu života opisale kao odliÄnu. Drugo testiranje vrijednosti pokazuje prosjek ukupne kvalitete života 0.34, statistiÄki znaÄajno loÅ”ije u odnosu na prvi test 0.39 (p = 0.02). Prilikom prvog testa srednja vrijednost za ocjenu kvalitete života bila je 0.39 bodova, Å”to je ocijenjeno kao dobra kvaliteta života, dok je drugo testiranje pokazalo prosjek ukupne kvalitete života 0.34, Å”to je statistiÄki znaÄajno loÅ”ije u odnosu na prvi test 0.39 (p = 0,001) (parni T-test i Wilcoxonov test). Ukupno fiziÄko zdravlje bolesnica pri prvom testiranju iznosi 0.43, Å”to predstavlja srednje dobar rezultat. Drugo testiranje pokazuje jednak prosjek ukupnog fiziÄkog zdravlja 0.43. Prvo testiranje pokazuje srednju vrijednost za ukupno mentalno zdravlje 0.31, Å”to je sukladno skali vrijednosti SF-36 srednje dobar rezultat. Drugo je testiranje pokazalo srednju vrijednost 0.27, Å”to je loÅ”iji rezultat u odnosu na prvi test (p = 0.001).
ZakljuÄak: Izmijenjen tjelesni izgled (engl. body image) zbog tretmana tumora dojke izvor je psihosocijalnih problema, dovodi do pogorÅ”anja opÄeg mentalnog zdravlja te utjeÄe na kvalitetu života mastektomiranih žena.Aim: To assess life quality in patients after mastectomy due to breast cancer and completed oncological treatment.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Palliative Care unit, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from May 2006 to May 2007. Thirty-five breast cancer patients who had undergone mastectomy and completed specific oncology treatment were examined. SF-36 scale was used to estimate life quality. T-test and Wilcoxonās test were used in the statistics. P < 0.05 was considered to be a significant difference.
Results: During the first test mean value of life quality was 0.39 which is in general a good life quality. 31 patients had an average good life quality; 2 had a good life quality and 2 patients had an excellent life quality. The second testing shows a mean value of 0.34 life quality, which is statistically significantly worse in comparison to the first testing 0.39 (p = 0.001) (steam T-test and Wilcoxonās test). Overall physical health of patients during the first testing amounts to 0.43, which is an average result. The second testing shows the same mean value of overall health of 0.43. The first testing shows a mean value for an overall mental health from 0.31 which is a average result. The second testing shows a mean value of 0.27 which is a deterioration in comparison to the first test (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Alteration of body image due to the treatment of breast cancer is a source of psycho-social difficulties and deterioration of overall mental health of quality of life
Current state of palliative care in Croatia
Nakon objaŔnjenja pojmova palijativne medicine i
palijativne skrbi, prikazan je nastanak hospicijskog pokreta u
hrvatskoj te osnivanje Hrvatskog druŔtva za hospicij i palijativnu
medicinu unutar HLZ. Predstavljen je okvir za organizaciju
palijativne skrbi prema Zakonu o zdravstvenoj zaŔtiti, kojim je
definirana i Ustanova za palijativnu skrb koja u sastavu ima
ambulantu za bol i palijativnu skrb te dnevni boravak, kao i
sastav palijativnoga interdisciplinarnog tima kuÄnih posjeta,
kojeg Äine: lijeÄnik, medicinska sestra, ljekarnik, fizikalni
terapeut, socijalni radnik s posebnom naobrazbom za pristup
umiruÄem te duhovnik. Iako nije ukljuÄena u sustav obveznoga
zdravstvenog osiguranja, ipak postoji interes zdravstvene
politike za palijativnu skrb. Predstavljeni su adresati kao i oblici
palijativne skrbi (kuÄna hospicijska skrb; dnevni hospicijski
boravci; ambulante/savjetovaliŔta za palijativnu skrb, posebno
bol; službe žalovanja). U zakljuÄnom dijelu predstavljen je prvi
hospicij u Hrvatskoj, āMarija Krucifiksa KozuliÄā u Rijeci, koji je
osnovala RijeÄka nadbiskupija.After explanation of terms of palliative medicine and
palliative care, the development of hospice movement in Croatia
is presented as well as the establishment of The Croatian Society
for Hospice and Palliative Medicine within the Croatian Medical
Association. The framework for the organization of palliative
care is introduced according to the Health Care Act, by which
The Institution for Palliative Care is defined. The Institution
encompasses the clinic for pain and palliative care, day care
and palliative interdisciplinary team for home visits consisting
of a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist, social
worker specially trained to approach the dying and spiritual
guide (chaplain). Although it is not included in the system of
compulsory health insurance, there is still interest of health
care policy in palliative care. The addressees are presented
as well as the forms of palliative care (home hospice care; day
hospice care; clinics/counselling centres for palliative care, and
for pain; bereavement services). In the final part the first hospice
in Croatia, āMarija Krucifiksa KozuliÄā in Rijeka, is presented,
established by the Archdiocese of Rijeka
Ethical aspects of communication in medicine
Komunikacija lijeÄnika i bolesnika nucleus je medicine orijentirane prema Äovjeku, a
ne prema bolesti. U danaŔnje moderno vrijeme koje podliježe brojnim izazovima moderne
tehnologije, uvelike je prepoznata promjena u kulturi komunikacije. U odnosu izmeÄu lijeÄnika
i bolesnika, unatoÄ velikim promjenama u tehnoloÅ”ko-znanstvenom smislu, postoji i dalje potreba
dobre komunikacije. Komunikacija u medicini kliniÄka je vjeÅ”tina koja se uÄi, poduÄava i
prakticira. Jedan od najvažnijih ishoda uspjeÅ”ne komunikacije izmeÄu lijeÄnika i bolesnika stjecanje
je poÅ”tovanja, a time uzroÄno-posljediÄno i povjerenja bolesnika u lijeÄnika i cijeli zdravstveni
tim koji skrbi o njemu. Ulaskom obavijeŔtenog pristanka u medicinu, kao oblika kvalitetne
komunikacije s bolesnikom, ostvarili su se etiÄki principi autonomije i pravednosti kao
doktrine medicinske etike.Communication between physician and patient is the nucleus of patient, no by disease
-oriented medicine. In contemporary times, with to many challenges of modern technology,
greatly recognized are the changes in the culture of communication. The relationship between
physician and patients, despite major changes in the technological-scientific terms, still
need good communication. Communication in clinical medicine is a skill that is learned,
taught and practiced. One of the most important outcomes of effective communication between
physician and patient is gaining respect and thus causally patient confidence in the
physicians and the entire medical team who care about him. Entering the informed consent in
medicine, as a form of good communication with the patient, made the ethical principles of
autonomy and justice as the doctrine of medical ethics
Bioethical, legislative and organisational preconditions for the implementation of contemporary hospice movement trends in the Croatian Health Service
Cilj istraživanja: Ustanoviti stupanj zadovoljstva graÄana RH u pogledu sadaÅ”nje
organiziranosti zdravstvenog sustava u svojem gradu u pružanju adekvatne skrbi za
terminalno oboljele pacijente. Utvrditi potrebu graÄana RH za pružanjem palijativne
skrbi, kao i za izgradnjom hospicija u njihovom gradu. Utvrditi postotak i profil
osoblja koji bi uz zdravstveno osoblje djelovali u interdisciplinarnom timu za pružanje
palijativne skrbi, s posebnim osvrtom na bioetiÄara. Ustanoviti na temelju procjene iz
radnog iskustva zdravstvenih djelatnika, koji postotak pacijenata treba usluge
palijativne skrbi, odnosno mora biti zbrinuto u hospicijima. Na temelju stavova
graÄana RH zdravstvenog i ne-zdravstvenog profila utvrditi procjenu odgovornosti
države, županije, lokale uprave (grada) za organiziranjem palijativne skrbi odnosno
izgradnjom hospicija. Utvrditi potrebu za struÄno organiziranom edukacijom javnosti
(dobrovoljaca) o palijativnoj skrbi. Utvrditi potrebu za trajnom struÄnom edukacijom
zdravstvenih djelatnika o palijativnoj/hospicijskoj skrbi, te propisivanjem
(sub)specijalizacije iz palijativne medicine
Ispitanici i metode: Ispitivanje se provelo putem dvije anonimne ankete. Jedna
anketa bila je namijenjena anketiranju graÄana 7 ispitanih gradova Republike
Hrvatske ne zdravstvenog profila, ukupno njih 1564, dok je druga anketa imala za cilj
ispitati stavove zdravstvenih djelatnika 7 ispitanih gradova Republike Hrvatske, njih
789. Uvodni dio ankete sadrži informaciju o anonimnosti ankete te o razlogu njezine
provedbe (u svrhu izrade doktorske disertacije). Slijedi dio ankete koji sadrži
sociodemografske podatke o spolu, starosnoj dobi, stupnju obrazovanja, zaposlenosti,
broju generacija koje žive u istom domaÄinstvu ispitanika u anketi za graÄane ne
zdravstvenog profila te godine staža u zdravstvenoj djelatnosti u anketi za zdravstvene
djelatnike. O svakoj od izjava ispitanici iskazuju svoj stav pomoÄu Likertove skale
procjene stavova sastavljene od pet stupnjeva: 1. u potpunosti se ne slažem, 2.
uglavnom se ne slažem, 3. ne znam, nemam stav, 4. uglavnom se slažem, 5. u
potpunosti se slažem. Dobiveni podatci analizirani su adekvatnim statistiÄkim
metodama ovisno o vrsti podataka.
Podatci dobiveni ovim istraživanjem prikazani su apsolutnim i relativnim
frekvencijama. Za varijablu dob koriŔten je medijan kao mjera centralne tendencije.
Normalnost raspodjele rezultata za svaku varijablu provjerene su Kolmogorov-
Smirnov testom. Za utvrÄivanje razlika izmeÄu varijabli koriÅ”ten je Kruskall-Wallis test, dok je kao post-hoc test koriÅ”ten Mann-Whitney test. Za utvÄivanje razlika
izmeÄu stavova koriÅ”ten je hi-kvadrat test. Razina znaÄajnosti odreÄena je na P<0,05.
Sve statistiÄke analize izvedene su pomoÄu statistiÄkog paketa Statistika 7.1.
Rezultati: Nakon uÄinjene statistiÄke obrade podataka i analize odgovora anketiranih
graÄana ne-zdravstvenog i zdravstvenog profila provedenih u 7 gradova Republike
Hrvatske dobiveni su znakoviti rezultati koji potvrÄuju potrebu graÄana i zdravstvenih
djelatnika Republike Hrvatske za organiziranim sustavom palijativne skrbi odnosno
izgradnjom hospicija. Potrebu za provoÄenjem sustava palijativne skrbi u potpunosti
podržava 53.5% ispitanih graÄana i zdravstvenih djelatnika ispitanih gradova odnosno
37.1% njih su uglavnom suglasni sa stavom da je potrebno provoditi sustav palijativne
skrbi u njihovom gradu/županiji. U zbroju postotaka podrŔka sustavu provedbe
palijativne skrbi u gradovima/županijama RH iznosi visokih 90.6 %. GraÄani nezdravstvenog
profila i zdravstveni djelatnici u potpunosti iskazuju potrebu za
izgradnjom hospicija u svojim gradovima s visokih 54.1%, odnosno uglavnom je
suglasno njih 33.9%. U zbroju 88% graÄana ne-zdravstvenog profila i zdravstvenih
djelatnika smatra potrebnim izgradnju hospicija u svom gradu/županiji. U prilog
prepoznatoj potrebi organiziranog sustav palijativne skrbi ide i stupanj zadovoljstva
graÄana ispitanih gradova gdje 43.3% graÄana smatra da se vrlo malo pažnje
posveÄuje terminalnim bolesnicima dok njih 13.4% drži da se takvim bolesnicima
uopÄe ne posveÄuje pažnja. TakoÄer, 1.8% ispitanika smatra da se u njihovom gradu
jako puno pažnje posveÄuje terminalno oboljelima. Na prethodno se nadovezuje
postotak od 35.6% graÄana koji su stava da se hrvatske državne bolnice vrlo malo
brinu o pacijentima u terminalnoj fazi bolesti. 16.3% miŔljenja je da se navedene
bolnice uopÄe ne brinu, dok se 3% graÄana izjasnilo da hrvatske državne bolnice
brinu maksimalno moguÄe o terminalnim pacijentima .
ZakljuÄci: U analizi dobivenih odgovora graÄana ne-zdravstvenog profila te
zdravstvenih djelatnika Republike Hrvatske u pogledu potrebe za organiziranjem i
uspostavom sustava palijativne skrbi, te potrebu za izgradnjom hospicija u gradovima
Republike Hrvatske zakljuÄuje se da je organizacija palijativne skrbi, te trajna
edukacija iz palijativne medicine s ukljuÄivanjem kliniÄkog bioetiÄara u sastav
interdisciplinarnog tima palijativne skrbi, neizostavna i neodgodiva zdravstvena
potreba i želja njezinih graÄana upravo kao i izgradnja hospicija.Aim: To establish the level of informativeness of citizens about palliative care
generally, and a need of the citizens of 7 croatian cities for palliative care and the
establishment of a hospice in the Republic of Croatia. To estimate the citizens
satisfaction with current organization of health care in their towns in providing
adequate care for terminally ill patients. To establish the percentage and profile of the
staff who would work, along with health professionals, in an interdisciplinary team
for palliative care, with special consideration for the role of a bioehicist in the team.
To establish, by evaluating health professionals' experience, the percentage of patients
who need palliative or hospice care.
Participants and Methods: The survey was conducted by two anonimous
questionnaires. One questinnaire was intended for the survey of non-health
professionals, total of 1564 persons, while the second questionnaire aimed to evaluate
the attitudes of health professionals in 7 croatian cities, 789 subjects. The introductory
part of the questionnaire included information about the anonimity of the survey and
its purpose (a disertation's thesis). The following part of the questionnire involved
socio-demographic data about sex, age, education, employment, the number of
generations who lived in the household of surveyed persons, for non-health
professionals, and length of work in health profession in the questionnaire for health
professionals. In each statement, the attitudes were measured by a Likert scale
comprised of five levels: 1. strongly disagree, 2. disagree, 3. undecided, 4. agree, 5.
strongly agree. The obtained data were analyzed by adequate statistical methods
depending on the data.
Results: The significant results obtained by processing statistical data and analyzing
responses given by the non-health and health professionals questioned in 7 Croatian
towns confirm the need amongst Croatian citizens and health workers for the
organization of a palliative care system and the establishment of hospices. The need to
establish a system of palliative care is completely supported by 53.5% of the citizens
and health workers questioned; 37.1% of them mostly agreed with the statement that
it is necessary to implement a system of palliative care in their town or county. The
total percentage in agreement with implementation of a palliative care system in
Croatian towns and counties amounts to 90.6%. Furthermore, 54.1% of non-health
and health workers completely agree that hospices need to be set up in their town, while 33.9% of them mostly agree with that. A total of 88% of the citizens and health
workers consider the establishing of hospices in their town or county to be necessary.
The need for organizing a system of palliative care is also supported by the level of
citizens' satisfaction in the surveyed towns where 43.3% of citizens think that little
attention is given to terminal patients, while 13.4% of them consider that such patients
are not given any attention at all. On the other hand, 1.8% of the respondents think
that plenty of attention is given to terminal patients in their towns. In addition, 35.6%
of citizens are of the opinion that Croatian state hospitals take very little care of
terminally ill patients. 16.3% of the respondents think that these hospitals take no care
at all of terminally ill patients, while 3% of the citizens answered that Croatian state
hospitals take the utmost possible care.
Conclusions: By analyzing the answers of non-health professionals and health
professionals in Croatia regarding the organization and establishment of palliative
care system, and the need for a hospice Croatia, the conclusion is that the organization
of palliative care and continuous education in pallitive medicine with a clinical
bioethicist as a member of an interdisciplinary team of palliative care are an
indispensable and urgent need and wish of the citizens, as well as the establishment
of a hospice
ETHICS AND SPORT
SAŽETAK
Etika je znanost o moralu. Pod pojmom morala najÄeÅ”Äe
se razumijeva sustav normi ili pravila ljudskog ponaŔanja.
Vezano uz sport, najbliži je pojam āautonomija moralaā.
RijeÄ je o moralnim principima tolerancije, humanosti
te poŔtovanja potreba drugih. Kada se spominju termini
etika i sport ili etiÄnost danaÅ”njeg sporta, najuÄestalije je
promiÅ”ljanje o negativnim, neetiÄnim aspektima sporta
poput dopinga, mita, korupcije i velikih materijalnih
zarada voÄenih iskljuÄivo idejom uspjeha i pobjede.
Suvremeni je sport na vjetrometini stalnog etiÄkoga propitivanja
i iskuÅ”enja ponajprije zbog utilitaristiÄkog pristupa.
Sport ukljuÄuje razne rizike poput gospodarstvenog
upletanja i postizanja uspjeha pod svaku cijenu, a
istovremeno je sredstvo propagande u meÄunarodnoj
politici. PotvrÄuju to brojna zbivanja povezana s
dobivanjem domaÄinstva svjetskih prvenstava, olimpijada,
paraolimpijada i sl. SportaŔi tako postaju borci za
prestiž svoje države-nacije i jednostavno ne smiju biti
bolesni, odnosno nezdravi, pa makar pod cijenu vlastita
zdravlja i unatoÄ savjetu sportskih lijeÄnika.
Informirana suglasnost (informed consent) upuÄena
ozlijeÄenom sportaÅ”u radi njegova izbora terapije, postaje
upitna i uvelike balansira izmeÄu izbora kvalitetnoga
medicinskog oporavka i onog brzog koji ga za Å”to kraÄe
vrijeme vraÄa āna terenā.SUMMARY
Ethics is the science of moral. Under the concept of
moral the most acceptable definition is that is a system
of norms and rules of human behaviour. In the relationship
with sport the nearest concept is Ā»moralās authonomy
Ā» which include the moral aspects of tolerancy,
humanity and respect. Intention to make a link between
termins as ethics and sports are, the most revolve in
oneās mind are negative (non-ethics) feedback such as
dopping, bribes, corruptions and profits motivated with
just one goal ā triumph and victory.
Contemporary sport is permanent under ethics enquiring
temptation because of utilitaristic admission. Sport
present risk, like economy interlacing in the name of
triumph no metter of the concequences and in the same
time resour of politics propaganda on international
level. The provement of that lies in lots of examples
such as hostility of worldās championships, olimpic and
paraolimpic games. Consider that the athletes use to be
fighters for reputation of their countries- nations and
they musnāt be sich and unhealthy no metter of physicians
advices.
Informed consent, initiated to the injured athlete in the
name of choosing the best way of treatmens, balance
between quality (rational medical treatment) and profit
(fastest return into Ā«arenaĀ»)
Bioethics and bioethical aspects of palliative medicine
Palijativna medicina je medicinska disciplina Äija djelatnost obuhvaÄa olakÅ”avanje simptoma sredstvima ranog otkrivanja, procjene i lijeÄenja boli te promoviranja kvalitete života. Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija (SZO) definirala je palijativnu skrb kao pristup kojim se bolesnicima suoÄenim sa smrtonosnom boleÅ”Äu i njihovim obiteljima nastoji pružiti najveÄu moguÄu kvalitetu života. Palijativna medicina to Äini sprjeÄavanjem i olakÅ”avanjem boli, kao i ostalih psihiÄkih, psihosocijalnih i duhovnih problema. Uz smirivanje simptoma, psihosocijalne podrÅ”ke bolesnicima i njegovim njegovateljima, vrlo važna komponenta palijativne medicine/skrbi jesu i (bio)etiÄki aspekti vezani uz kraj života. Zbog naglaska koji stavlja na kliniÄku
djelatnost, kliniÄka se bioetika u svakodnevnom svladavanju bolesti snažno oslanja na meÄudjelovanje kliniÄara i bolesnika, Å”to u palijativnoj medicini/skrbi predstavlja conditio sine qua non kvalitetne i humane skrbi za bolesnika.Palliative medicine is a medical discipline which deals with all forms of medical care or treatment which reduces the severity of disease symptoms, relieves suffering and improves the quality of life. The term āpalliative careā may be used generally to refer to any kind of care which alleviates symptoms even if there is hope of a cure by other means. The WHO statement defines palliative care as āthe approach which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnessā. Palliative care focuses on the treatment of pain and other distressing symptoms, as well as psychological and spiritual care. It also involves ethical aspects associated with the endingof- life and provides a support system for the individual and the individualās family. Due to the emphasis palliative medicine places on clinical activity, clinical bioethics greatly depends on the interaction between clinicians and patients in everyday struggle with diseases which represents a conditio sine qua non in palliative medicine for a quality and human care for patients
Medical Ethics in Palliative Care
Palijativna skrb, odnosno medicina sveobuhvatna je aktivna skrb o bolesnicima s uznapredovalom ili neizljeÄivom bolesti i Älanovima njihovih obitelji koju pružaju kompetentni multidisciplinarni timovi, s ciljem poboljÅ”anja kvalitete života a prema potrebama i zahtjevima pacijenta i obitelji. āOnomu koji odlazi iz života treba posvetiti jednaku pažnju zajednice kao i onomu malenomu ljudskomu biÄu koje tek ulazi u životā, rekla je jednom prilikom utemeljiteljica palijativne medicine u Hrvatskoj Anica JuÅ”iÄ. Moramo pokuÅ”ati promijeniti mentalitet naÅ”e sredine te ostvariti obrazac u kojem Äe bolesnik biti u srediÅ”tu zbivanja. U posljednjih dvadesetak godina palijativna medicina zaokuplja pozornost medicinske struke i poprima rastuÄu važnost u svijetu prvenstveno jer utjelovljuje koncept skrbi, a ne samo lijeÄenja, razvijajuÄi time opÄu svijest o važnosti skrbi, osobito kada lijeÄenje viÅ”e nije moguÄe. Palijativna medicina kao grana medicine koja prouÄava i skrbi za bolesnika s progresivnom, uznapredovalom bolesti ograniÄene prognoze brine se za optimalnu kvalitetu preostaloga života i prihvaÄanju umiranja kao prirodnoga dogaÄaja, koji zdravstveni djelatnici interdisciplinarno sa psiholozima, socijalnim radnicima, ljekarnicima i duhovnicima trebaju potpomoÄi usmjeravanjem, preveniranjem komplikacija, ublažavanjem boli i patnje, pomaganjem da umiranje postane manje bolan dogaÄaj dostojan svih koji u njemu sudjeluju. Sukladno brojnim kodeksima medicinske etike i deontologije, jedno od najvažnijih obilježja medicinskoga poziva pomoÄ je i briga (skrb) za pacijenta, poglavito onoga teÅ”ko bolesnoga i umiruÄega.Palliative care/medicine is the comprehensive active care of patients with advanced or incurable diseases and also of the members of their families. It is provided by competent interdisciplinary teams with the aim of improving the quality of life of terminally ill patients in accordance with the needs and requirements of both the patient and his/her family. āOne who is leaving this earthly life should be given the same attention by the community as the tiny human being just entering this life, ā said professor Anica JuÅ”iÄ, MD Ph.D. (1), the founder of palliative medicine in Croatia. We must try to change the mindset in our immediate environment and create a pattern of patientācentered care. In the last twenty years, palliative medicine has taken over the medical profession and has gained in importance all over the world. This is due to the fact that it embodies the concept of care and not just treatment, thus generating general awareness of the importance of care, especially when treatment is no longer possible. Palliative medicine as a branch of medicine which studies and cares for patients with progressive, advanced diseases and a limited life expectancy takes care to optimize the quality of life in the limited remaining time and works toward the acceptance of dying as a natural event. Therefore, health professionals need the interdisciplinary support of psychologists, social workers and pharmacists in order to prevent complications by relieving pain and suffering, by helping to make dying a less painful event worthy of all who participate in it. In accordance with the Code of Medical Ethics and Deontology, one of the most important features of a medical vocation is the desire to help and care for a patient, particularly a seriously ill or diseased person
Bioethics and bioethical aspects of palliative medicine
Palijativna medicina je medicinska disciplina Äija djelatnost obuhvaÄa olakÅ”avanje simptoma sredstvima ranog otkrivanja, procjene i lijeÄenja boli te promoviranja kvalitete života. Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija (SZO) definirala je palijativnu skrb kao pristup kojim se bolesnicima suoÄenim sa smrtonosnom boleÅ”Äu i njihovim obiteljima nastoji pružiti najveÄu moguÄu kvalitetu života. Palijativna medicina to Äini sprjeÄavanjem i olakÅ”avanjem boli, kao i ostalih psihiÄkih, psihosocijalnih i duhovnih problema. Uz smirivanje simptoma, psihosocijalne podrÅ”ke bolesnicima i njegovim njegovateljima, vrlo važna komponenta palijativne medicine/skrbi jesu i (bio)etiÄki aspekti vezani uz kraj života. Zbog naglaska koji stavlja na kliniÄku
djelatnost, kliniÄka se bioetika u svakodnevnom svladavanju bolesti snažno oslanja na meÄudjelovanje kliniÄara i bolesnika, Å”to u palijativnoj medicini/skrbi predstavlja conditio sine qua non kvalitetne i humane skrbi za bolesnika.Palliative medicine is a medical discipline which deals with all forms of medical care or treatment which reduces the severity of disease symptoms, relieves suffering and improves the quality of life. The term āpalliative careā may be used generally to refer to any kind of care which alleviates symptoms even if there is hope of a cure by other means. The WHO statement defines palliative care as āthe approach which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnessā. Palliative care focuses on the treatment of pain and other distressing symptoms, as well as psychological and spiritual care. It also involves ethical aspects associated with the endingof- life and provides a support system for the individual and the individualās family. Due to the emphasis palliative medicine places on clinical activity, clinical bioethics greatly depends on the interaction between clinicians and patients in everyday struggle with diseases which represents a conditio sine qua non in palliative medicine for a quality and human care for patients