What is palliative care?

Palliative care is the care of patients suffering from severe, often life-threatening chronic or acute illnesses for which a cure is no longer possible.

What is prioritized in palliative care?

The control of pain and other symptoms, as well as social, psychological, and spiritual problems, with the aim of improving or maintaining the best possible quality of life.

Which doctor makes the decision about the necessity of palliative care?

The decision regarding the type of necessary palliative care, such as outpatient, home, or inpatient care, is made by the family doctor, specialist doctor, or palliative care specialist, individually assessing each patient's case.

How does a palliative care specialist help?

• Provides professional, specialized, urgent, and long-term medical assistance to palliative care patients.
• During the consultation, identifies the patient's complaints and determines whether hospitalization is necessary.
• If hospitalization is not necessary, develops a home care plan under the supervision of the family doctor.
• Prescribes medications used in palliative care, adjusts dosages, explains their use, drug interactions, and side effects, and recommends necessary assistive devices, among other things.
• Prepares the necessary documents and reports for severely ill and permanently cared-for patients.

What should be taken into account?

• Patients should bring medical history records and personal identification documents to the consultation with the palliative care specialist.
• If the patient's condition is severe, a relative may attend the outpatient consultation, bringing the patient's medical history records and their own personal identification documents.