In this episode Dr. Wyatt begins with a brief discussion about Memorial Day and the need for people to come together and recognize our shared humanity during this time of deep polarization in US society.
Discussion includes:
- Study in the UK shows group meals for dementia patients lead to better health and quality of life
- NYC passed a law to protect family caregivers from being terminated from their jobs due to their caregiving duties
- Journal of Oncology reports that black women with breast cancer are 14% less likely to receive hospice care and 59% more likely to die in the hospital, compared to white women with breast cancer
- Palliate Guide is a new app for smart phones that contains basic palliative care guidelines and opiate prescribing tools
- Study done at UCSF shows gap between doctors’ estimations of patient survival rates and surrogates estimates; surrogates were much more optimistic about survival but doctors were more accurate
- Survey shows nephrologists have difficulty recommending palliative or hospice care for patients with end-stage renal disease and knowing when to withdraw dialysis
- Early palliative care is associated with less stress and depression for family caregivers later on during the illness
- Dr. Seamus O’Mahony from Cork University in Ireland has been quoted as saying, regarding end-of-life care: “Our needs are spiritual, not medical.”
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