Palliative Care News and Research

RSS

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

British Medical Journal publishes euthanasia opinions

Next month's debate in the House of Lords could begin the process of changing the law on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. To help doctors decide where they stand, the British Medical Journal has published a range of opinions.

26 Sep 2005

Survey of general surgeons suggests that the amount of education and training they receive in palliative care is limited

Previous studies have indicated that surgeons receive little training in palliative surgical intervention, the objective of which is to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life rather than cure disease or extend survival, according to background information in the article.

20 Sep 2005

Combined computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) - may detect the spread of head and neck cancer more accurately

"PET/CT is very helpful in determining where we should pinpoint our biopsies for recurrent disease," said Dr. Carol Shores, assistant professor of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at UNC and the report's senior author. Shores is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

26 Jul 2005

Cancer patients are being forced to bear the massive financial burden of changes in NHS treatment

The side effects of cancer treatment mean patients often have to give up work, and may have to live on a low income; forcing many patients to make a choice between finding the money for travel to hospital and basic necessities such as food, children's clothes and household bills.

19 Jul 2005

At the end of life hospices better option for the elderly than nursing homes

A new study has shown that straight talking elderly people, who are facing death in nursing homes, raises the likelihood of them agreeing to enter hospices in the last days of their life.

14 Jul 2005

Most people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not depressed

Contrary to what you might think, most people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not depressed. They are also not more likely to get depressed as the end of life approaches, and they are not more likely to be depressed if they want to die or hasten their own death.

11 Jul 2005

Medical residents in Japan are more likely to involve patients' families in end-of-life decision making

...and to favor informing family members over the patients first - than their United States counterparts, who prefer dealing directly with the patient, according to a new study conducted by Dr. Bob Gabbay and colleagues.

27 Jun 2005

Tentative approval for Lamivudine tablets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the tentative approval of Lamivudine Tablets manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma LTD. Hyderabad, India.

16 Jun 2005

Research looks at palliative care services in hospitals

In more and more hospitals across the U.S., patients turn to palliative care specialists to provide relief from pain, help in making difficult medical decisions and support for their families and those who care for them.

9 Jun 2005

Scientists bridge major gap in prostate cancer research

Everyman scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research have established an initiative to promote vital research for the development and clinical testing of new drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer. This announcement coincides with the launch of The Institute's Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month which runs throughout June.

1 Jun 2005

'Complicated Grief' far worse than depression and doctors want it recognised

Doctors in the U.S. are hoping that a condition they refer to as 'Complicated Grief' which goes far beyond depression, will soon be recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

1 Jun 2005

Canada lags behind other western countries in the level of financial support it gives to family caregivers

The international review was conducted as part of the Hidden Costs Invisible Contributions (HCIC) research project. The financial support review was led by Mount Saint Vincent University's (MSVU) Dr. Janice Keefe who found that Australia and the United Kingdom do a better job of financially supporting people looking after a sick relative.

22 May 2005

Nurses in the UK are calling for a reconsideration of the laws governing euthanasia

At their annual meeting the Royal College of Nursing heard arguments in favour of terminally-ill patients having the right to decide when and how to end their lives.

26 Apr 2005

Good communication skills can improve academic achievement, self-esteem, social adjustment

The most anticipated moment for many parents is the sound of a child’s first word. But what if the words are delayed, jumbled or never come at all?

23 Apr 2005

Is late diagnosis of lung cancer inevitable?

A study by researchers into the diagnosis of patients with lung cancer suggests that avoidable patient delays in reporting symptoms of the disease is an important factor in its treatment.

12 Apr 2005

$5.53 million to help strengthen Canada's nursing workforce

Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has announced federal funding of $5.53 million to help strengthen Canada's nursing workforce paying tribute to the critical role nurses play in Canada's health care system. Minister Dosanjh made this announcement in a speech to the Nursing Leadership Conference.

17 Feb 2005

Tentative approval of co-packaged lamivudine/zidovudine fixed dose combination tablets and nevirapine tablets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the tentative approval of a co-packaged antiretroviral drug regimen manufactured by Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.

26 Jan 2005

Supply problem with the opiate painkiller, diamorphine

The UK Department of Health has advised the NHS that there is a supply problem with the opiate painkiller, diamorphine, and that stocks may rapidly reach a critical level in the next few weeks.

26 Dec 2004

People with terminal conditions should be able to die at home with dignity

Although 65% of people with cancer want to die at home, only about 30% are successful in doing so. A government committed to choice for patients must improve this figure, write palliative care experts from Edinburgh University.

5 Nov 2004

A new general medical journal launched this week with a non-traditional publishing model

A new general medical journal launched this week with a non-traditional publishing model is the latest top-tier venue for publishing important, peer-reviewed biomedical research, and is being called the first major, international journal to be introduced in more than 70 years.

22 Oct 2004