Palliative medicine. Care, pain therapy, and symptom monitoring

Palliative medicine and the hospice are committed to life and reject active euthanasia. The following crucial points form the basis for this position. Not to be left alone while dying but rather to die in a familiar place attended by familiar people. Not to have to suffer physical distress and pain while dying and to be able to discuss spiritual questions. To preserve the patient's dignity and autonomy, gynecological oncological clinics providing acute care should have a palliative concept prepared. The anaesthesiologists by virtue of their specialized know-how contribute significantly to the process as part of a multiprofessional team. While including the family circle, dying children require medical, nursing, psychological, and spiritual support tailored specifically to their needs in surroundings suitable for children. Availability of an inpatient facility in the sense of a palliative ward for crisis intervention is just as essential for children as it is for adults. Care in a youth hospice of children with a long-term illness provides relief for the parents as well as the siblings. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2006.