Hospice Medical Guideline, Non-Cancer Diseases.
- Author:
Youn Seon CHOI
1
;
Hyun Sook KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Hospice care;
Eligibility determination;
Chronic disease;
Practice guidelines as topic
- MeSH:
Chronic Disease;
Dementia;
Eligibility Determination;
Heart;
Hospice Care;
Hospices;
Humans;
Korea;
Liver Diseases;
Lung;
Palliative Care;
Practice Guidelines as Topic;
Stress, Psychological
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2010;13(2):69-75
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Hospice is defined by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO, USA) and WHO, as a program of care that provides comprehensive medical, nursing and support services to dying patients and their family. Despite its broad definition, however, hospice care in Korea has been focused mostly on terminal cancer patients. Thus hospice eligibility for patients with advanced cancer is relatively easier to predict than those with other fatal chronic illnesses such as heart, lung, renal or liver diseases, and dementia. This makes it more difficult for patients and families to prepare for death and gain full benefits of hospice care. This article introduces the medical guidelines for selected non-cancer patients who are expected to live for only six months, this making it possible for patients, who are nearing the end of life, to avoid unwarranted suffering.