Her mother, like too many Australians, missed out on quality and timely end-of-life care. Once associated with giving up, early palliative care is better for patients and their loved ones
Some time ago, a friend requested my advice. Her mother was in hospital for the seventh time in one year. The tests just kept coming but the patient was no better. Her body was failing and her cognition faltering. The doctors were openly pessimistic on their daily rounds. And yet, after three weeks, there didn’t seem to be a clear plan, or at least one the family understood.
“Why can’t someone tell us the big picture?” my friend said. Her mother’s downward trajectory was evident, but she felt guilty thinking “bad” thoughts. However, if her mother was dying, she wanted to take her home.