facts & myths about palliative care

Liza Manalo, MD

DISPELLING THE MYTHS ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE

LIZA C. MANALO, MD, MSc.PALLIATIVE CARE

Philippines

Palliative Care Facts & Myths

Liza Manalo, MD

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

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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.


Liza Manalo, MD

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-of-life.


facts & myths about palliative care

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