In a new book Cornell's Dr. Joseph Fins helps clinicians, patients, and family members make the transition. Over the last 15 years, palliative care has come into its own, with more hospices and specialty-trained physicians than ever before; yet, outside the specialty, there is still a considerable lack of understanding by medical practitioners about end-of-life care and ways to help patients make this often tricky transition. Formulating goals takes the form of advance care planning — including a living will, which outlines treatment choices; and advance directives that designate a health-care proxy and guidelines for a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order.
This is a significant health care issue, a primary prevention issue and a should be a population based issue.
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