The parlous state of palliative care in the developing world.

摘要

In a developing country, patients who are diagnosed with terminal cancer or HIV must confront their mortality alone, and in pain. Pallative care, especially pain relief, is virtually nonexistent in poorer nations. The need for improved palliative care in developing countries is great. Of 58 million people who die every year, 45 million die in developing countries. An estimated 60% (27 million) of these people in poor nations would benefit from palliative care, and this number is growing as chronic diseases such as cancer rise rapidly. Yet a combination of highly restrictive policies on opioid prescription and a lack of awareness within the medical profession conspire to deprive patients of palliative care. Human rights advocates argue that this neglect is a breach of human rights that is tantamount to torture.