The doctor’s role in palliative care

Abstract

The professional performance of physicians should be guided by the principles of Beneficence, not ignoring evidence-based medicine, Non-Maleficence, Autonomy, and Justice. Here lies the ethical freedom of the assisted person, with the right to privacy, respect, and dignity. Free and informed consent is an indispensable presupposition in a good doctor-patient relationship. It is our concern to consider the physician’s ability to interact/articulate with other professionals and, concomitantly, to assess, from a transdisciplinary perspective, the extent to which the physician’s role is felt as a motivator and facilitator of the integration of family care within the team. There is a proven deficit in communication with the patient in palliative care. It is essential to listen, look, touch and talk. Symptom control, adequate communication, caregiver support, and a teamwork frame represent the essence of palliative care; without them, good outcomes are not possible. Comfort care, seeking to alleviate suffering and reinforce well-being and quality of life, and not neglecting spirituality for the inner strength and personal growth it may bring about constitute indispensable support in the palliative approach.