This retrospective study from a 21-hospital system analyzed the effect of palliative medicine consultations on 30-day hospital readmission rates for patients with six diagnoses (heart failure, sepsis, pneumonia, COPD, AMI, and stroke). The research found statistically significant reductions in readmissions for heart failure, sepsis, and pneumonia p…

This article presents an ethics case study concerning a 52-year-old male declared brain dead, whose family refuses to remove life support. Multiple perspectives—medical, nursing, chaplain, social work, legal, and ethical—are offered, exploring the conflict between the family's emotional denial of death and the medical team's obligation to uphold ac…

This case report details a rare instance of post-radiation lichen planus in a 64-year-old male, following radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma. The report examines the patient's medical history, clinical presentation, and treatment response to topical triamcinolone. The authors review existing literature on lichen planus, emphasizing its T…

This case report and accompanying discussion detail Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES), a neurological condition presenting with seizures, visual disturbances, and altered mental status. Often misdiagnosed as more severe conditions like intracranial hemorrhage, PRES demonstrates reversible brain swelling on MRI. The case highlights…

The BJR method is a novel mathematical approach to methadone conversion that aims to improve upon existing methods by providing a smoother, less discontinuous, and less linear output for a reasonable and safe methadone dose. Here's how it improves upon existing conversion approaches: Addresses Limitations of the Plonk Method: The Plonk method uses …

The case study underscores the potential for misinterpreting spiritual distress as psychiatric illness, resulting in inappropriate treatment. Clinicians should learn several key lessons from the case of Mr. G, primarily emphasizing the importance of addressing patients' spiritual needs alongside their physical ailments. Open communication: Clinicia…

This ethics roundtable discussion centers on the case of JG, a 45-year-old man who attempted suicide and subsequently suffered severe brain damage. The article presents differing perspectives from medical, nursing, risk management, ethics, pastoral, social work, and legal professionals regarding the ethical implications of his wife's request to wit…

This ethics roundtable discussion analyzes a case study where a patient's daughter-in-law, the primary caregiver, seeks to withdraw life support, but state law restricts surrogacy to blood relatives or spouses. The discussion explores the ethical and legal implications of this restrictive law, highlighting the conflict between the patient's best in…

Ethical and legal considerations surrounding a comatose Jehovah's Witness patient's need for a life-saving blood transfusion are debated. The patient's parents, also Jehovah's Witnesses, refuse consent, while her brother advocates for the transfusion, claiming she wasn't a practicing member. The case highlights the conflict between parental surroga…

Who makes the decision if the patient lacks capacity? Multiple healthcare professionals offer varying perspectives on the ethical and legal dilemma surrounding the care of a 93-year-old comatose patient (JH). A conflict exists between JH's legally appointed Power of Attorney (POA), his hired caregiver, who wants aggressive treatment, and his son, w…

This episode features Professor Raymond Voltz (Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Health Ser…

This episode features Jodie Crooks (Marie Curie, London, UK) and Dr Briony Hudson (Marie Curie, London, UK; Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK). What is already known about the topic? Research into palliative care for people experiencing homelessness is complex and requires input from people with …

This episode features Suning Mao (State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China) What is already known about the topic? Home-based palliative care has grown in popularity, but challenges in coordina…

This episode features Professor Scott Murray (Primary Palliative Care Research Group, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK). We are delighted with this special edition, and that Palliative Medicine has turned its focus on this important topic. Primary Palliative Care, delivering palliative care by trained primary care profess…

Primary Palliative Care - onwards and upwards!

This episode features Richard Keagan-Bull (Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, School of Nursing, Allied and Public Health, Kingston University London, London, UK). What is already known about the topic? Deaths of people with intellectual disabilities are often unanticipated, unplanned for and poorly managed. Service providers in…

This episode features Sheryn Tan (University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia) and Dr Stephen Bacchi (Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia; Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA, Australia) What is already known about the topic? In palliative care patients for whom there is a need for non-oral antiseizure medications, and a pref…

This episode features Dr Maria Arantzamendit, (Universidad de Navarra, Institute for Culture and Society-ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. IdISNA-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra. Medicina PaliativaK). What is already known about the topic? Palliative care professionals use coping strategies to…

This episode features Hannah Scott, (King’s College London, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK) What is already known about the topic? Person-centred outcome measures have been shown to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes in adult palliative care when successfull…

This episode features Dr Fiona Kenney and Koby Anderson, (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada) What is already known about the topic? Previous research demonstrates a high prevalence of severe grief symptoms up to a year post-death of a loved one among those who experienced bereaveme…

This episode features Sue-Ling Chang, (CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Oncology Division, Québec City, QC, Canada) What is already known about the topic? There is a growing interest in psilocybin-assisted therapy worldwide, particularly to treat existential distress at the end of life. What this paper adds? In this study, we show th…

This episode features Dr Carlos Seiça Cardoso (Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal) What is already known about the topic? The burden of chronic, progressive, incurable and life-threatening illness is increasing, highlighting the need t…

This episode features Ellis Slotman (Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands) What is already known about the topic? Potentially inappropriate end-of-life care in patients with cancer is still common. The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to affect cancer diagnosis and treatment, but evidence on how the pandemi…

This episode features Dr Vanessa Abrahamson, (Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent, Kent, UK). What is already known about the topic? Increasingly, people at end-of-life want to die at home but this relies heavily on family carers to support the patient. Many carers struggle with the practical and emotional burden of caring for a …

This episode features Dr Nivedita Ashok, (University College London, London, UK). What is already known about the topic? Individuals with intellectual disability or serious mental illness have high rates of mortality due to physical comorbidities. These populations have specific needs that should be met to provide optimum palliative care and mainta…

This episode features Caitlin Spooner (Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK). What is already known about the topic? - Currently, there is no gold standard for evaluating how different methods of prognosticating in advanced cancer impact on patient care. - Prognostic models are principally evaluated…

This episode features Dr Amara Nwosu (Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK; Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK; and Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool, Liverpool, UK). The podcast is an overview of a published editorial on telehealth in palliative care. Dr Nwosu highlights the unrealised potential…

Title "Hospital-service use in the last year of life by patients aged ⩾60 years who died of heart failure or cardiomyopathy: A retrospective linked data study" Description This episode features Dr Gursharan K Singh (Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia). What is…

This episode features Hannah May Scott (Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK). What is already known about the topic? - Although spiritual concerns are recognised as a core component of palliative care for children, there is a paucity of primary data. - S…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances…

It is estimated that more than 80% of adults in the U.S. will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. Dr. Paul Su discusses the basics of lower back pain with a look at anatomy, physiology and evaluation. Series: "Osher WI…

This episode features Dr Jenny Lau (Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada) and Dr. Daniel Buchman (Everyday Eth…

This episode features Dr Rachael Moss (Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK). What is already known about the topic: - The degree to which individuals access and use palliative and end-of-life care services varies across communities and countries. What this paper adds: - This study found…

This episode features Isabel Vandenbogaerde (End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium). What is already known about the topic: Involvement of family carers in advance care planning conversations is crucial for end-of-life decision-making. Family carers are willing to engage in advance care…

This episode features Dr Joyce Chung and Weilin Chen (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China). What is already known about the topic: End-of-life communication can improve patients’ quality of life, ease the bereavement experience, raise care satisfaction and reduce the utilisation of aggres…

This episode features Suzanne Smith (Master of Palliative Care student, Flinders University, Australia; Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Australia), Dr Megan Doherty (University of Ottawa, ON, Canada; Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada) and Dr Mostofa Kamal Chowdhury (BangabandhuSheikh Mujib Medical University, D…

This episode features Dr Richard Green (University of Surrey, Guildford, UK). Multimorbidity is increasing substantially worldwide, is associated with greater use of healthcare services, lower quality and quantity of life, and rises with age. Older people with multimorbidity are expected to become the main recipients of palliative care in the comin…

This episode features Dr Andrew Page (Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK). Cancer pain is common, extremely debilitating, and undertreated worldwide. We do not know if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aka NSAIDs or “anti-inflammatories”) are effective in managing cancer pain of…

Cancer has a major impact on our society with approximately 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. diagnosed during their lifetimes. This program discusses the benefits of an integrative approach to health where health and quality of life are optimized and individuals are empowered. This includes integrative oncology where cancer care is evidence based and cent…

This episode features Dr James Downar (University of Ottawa, Canada). Early studies in the COVID-19 pandemic have suggested a high prevalence of severe grief symptoms, although most have used convenience or survey sampling methods which may bias the results, and most have assessed symptoms before pathological grief can be diagnosed (…

This episode features Dr Sofia Morberg Jämterud (Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden) and Anna Sandgren (Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden). Serious illness conversations promote patients’ possibility of receiving care that is in accordance with their wishes and priorities. Identifying patients for serious illness conversations remains difficu…

This episode features George Muishout (Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies, Amsterdam School for Historical Studies, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). To Muslims it is important that medical decisions are in accordance with Islamic values. In life-threatening illness, Muslims ask imams for religious adv…

This episode features researchers from the the University of Cologne (Germany) from the Faculty of Human Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School GROW – Gerontological Research on Well-being, and also the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Department of Palliative Medicine. The researchers are Helena Kukla, Angélique Herrler, Dr …

This episode features Professor Scott Murray (Primary Palliative Care Research Group, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK). People living at home with advanced progressive illness require well-coordinated services at all times of the day and night. Early identification for generalist palliative care support and care planning in the community can …

This episode features Professor Raymond Voltz, Kathleen Boström and Dr Kerstin Kremeike (Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Patients in palliative care frequently express a desire to die that rarely leads to a request for medical aid in dying. Fearing to cause har…