Facts & myths about palliative care

1. DISPELLING THE MYTHS ABOUT
PALLIATIVE CARE
LIZA C. MANALO, MD, MSc.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Philippines
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

2. MYTH: Choosing palliative care
means my doctors and/or family
are "giving up" on me.
 FACT: When a cure is no longer possible,
supportive and palliative care provides the
type of care most people say they want at
the end of life--comfort and quality of life.
The most common statement made by
families who chose palliative care for their
loved one is, "we wish we had known about
palliative care sooner."
Liza Manalo, MD
Palliative Care Facts & Myths

3. MYTH: Palliative care means no
more treatment.
 FACT: When a palliative care team is called
into a case or is asked to take over the care
of a patient, treatment does not automatically
stop.
Treatment and therapies can continue, but
they have a different goal.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

4. MYTH: Supportive and palliative
care is for people with cancer or
for old people.
 FACT: Supportive and palliative care is for
all ages who are living with a persistent or
recurring condition that adversely affects
their daily functioning or will predictably
reduce life expectancy.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

5. MYTH: Having palliative care
means you will die soon.
 FACT: Palliative care is not offered
according to the amount of time a patient
has left. Palliative care is highly specialized
and tailored to each individual, to ensure the
highest quality of life possible to live each
day until the end.
Withholding or Withdrawing Life Sustaining Treatment
Liza Manalo, MD

6. MYTH: Pain is an expected part
of the dying process.
 FACT: Even though the patient may be
dying, supportive and palliative care doctors,
oncology and pain nurses, and others are
specially trained to control the patient's pain,
while still keeping the patient awake and
alert whenever possible.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

7. MYTH: Palliative care manages pain and
other distressing symptoms through the
use of addictive narcotics or opioids, and
you sleep until you die.
 FACT: If the disease cause moderate to
severe pain and/or breathlessness, the
patient may be treated with narcotics or
opioids, but only if the patient needs it and
only at the dosages they are needed. Proper
doses of narcotics or opioids usually does
not cause someone to stop breathing or to
sleep until he/she dies.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

8. MYTH: Palliative care can only
be provided in a hospital or
hospice setting.
 FACT: Palliative care is not a place, but a
philosophy of care. Palliative care services
are offered not only in hospitals or hospices,
but also in the patient’s own home, where
the person can be surrounded by family and
familiar settings.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

9. MYTH: If I choose supportive and
palliative care, I'll have to give up
my own doctor(s).
 FACT: Patients in palliative care remain
under the care of their own physician(s).
Working hand in hand with the palliative care
team, the attending physician continues to
play an essential role.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

10. MYTH: Palliative care won't allow
me or my family to be involved
in making decisions about
treatment.
 FACT: Palliative care puts patients and
families at the center of care. Trained
professionals provide guidance and
encourage open, honest communication
about individual wishes and choices.
Palliative Care Facts & Myths
Liza Manalo, MD

11. MYTH: Only those with private
insurance will be able to afford
palliative care.
 FACT: Palliative care physicians are
accredited by Philhealth. They give senior
citizen’s discount. Since the focus of care
has shifted to comfort measures, the
palliative care physician helps the family cut
down expenses arising from futile
diagnostics and therapeutics at the end-oflife.
Liza Manalo, MD
Palliative Care Facts & Myths