An Ethical Approach To Providing Palliative Care To Patients With Cancer Who Lack Decision-Making Capacity

摘要

Objective: To assess the ability of ethical approach to providing palliative care to patients with cancer who lack decision-making capacity. The goals and values of these decision makers may conflict with those of each other and with those of the patient, who now lacks the capacity to participate in the decision.Methods: Consecutive patients referred for surgical clinic and oncology department, Shohada Medical Center, underwent evaluation. The study includes 650 patients with cancer disease. 250 patients have severed disease and lack decision-making capacity. Results: 148 males and 152 females and age averages in females (26-72) and males (32-75) and guided by family, physician, surgeon, nurses and other caregivers. We performed 21 gastrostomies and 10 jejunostomies for feeding and 81 cases for nerve block. All patients consulted with a psychologist. Conclusion: Palliative care is designed to relieve a patient's suffering in order to maximize dignity and quality of life.