Improving the Transition to End-of-Life Care
A new book, “A Palliative Ethic of Care: Clinical Wisdom at Life’s End”(Jones and Bartlett Publishers) offers clinicians, medical students,patients, and family members a practical guide to the subject. Writtenby a world-renowned authority on medical ethics and end-of-life care,Dr. Joseph J. Fins of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill CornellMedical Center, the book helps ease the transition from curative topalliative care, with practical advice on issues like formulating goalsof care.
“The average length of stay in a hospice is only afew weeks. This is often too little, too late. In fact, many patientsdeserving of a comfortable and dignified death aren’t even given theoption, whether in a hospice or hospital setting,” says Dr. Fins. He isChief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Medical College ofCornell University, where he serves as Professor of Medicine, Professorof Public Health, and Professor of Medicine in Psychiatry. In addition,he is Director of Medical Ethics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/WeillCornell Medical Center.