The Conversations of Palliative Care: Autonomy and Self-Determination Until the End

I spend my days explaining to people how they can expect to die. The Conversations of Palliative Care is a book related to decisions people have to make at end of life as well as those asked of them in the months or years leading up to then. It is a book designed to get people to begin to realize how their illnesses affect them and what the natural course of their illness is expected to be. A variety of topics related to this unique time in a person's life is described as well as considerations for those who provide palliative care. Symptom management, staff angst, ethical issues, documentation, religious and social needs are addressed as well as specifics related to disease states, among other issues. The information is then personified through case studies: within a hospital, at a private residence, and a pediatric vignette. The purpose of this book is to raise awareness to end-of-life decisions patients are asked to make while increasing the comfort level of the medical staff who care for them. Ultimately, palliative care increases patient empowerment and knowledge about their bodies and unique set of medical diagnoses. Decisions they ultimately make regarding medical interventions are aligned to their person beliefs. These decisions are truly made in an educated manner. Utilized correctly, palliative care follows a person throughout the health care continuum.