Eli's Hospice Insider

Published on Tue Jan 17, 2012 PDF

Quality of life tops docs' priority list.

A recent poll of physicians found that 96 percent think quality of life for dying patients is more important than ensuring they live as long as possible, according to the National Journal. That differs significantly from a poll released in February that found only 71 percent of the general public agreed.

Barriers: Twenty-four percent of poll-responding physicians said they were uncomfortable discussing death with patients. The same number said they were reluctant to bring up palliative care because they were worried patients and their families would think they had given up on them.