Abstract
Palliative medicine has become an integral part of the German healthcare system in recent years. However, patients with non-malignant diseases have less access to palliative care than patients with oncological diseases. These patients comprise a heterogeneous group of chronic lung and heart diseases, neurological and geriatric diseases. Their symptom burden and their palliative care needs are similar to those of oncological patients, but earlier in the disease process. Physical aspects of the disease process are different from psychological, social and spiritual aspects. General medical and specialized palliative care should be offered depending on the complexity of patient’s needs. Screening tools are helpful in identifying patients who need palliative care early in the course of the disease. Advance planning should be an integral part of caring for these patients.
Cicely Saunders und Mary Baines, die Pionierinnen der Hospizbewegung und Palliativmedizin, schrieben 1983: „Viele der Symptome, die behandelt werden müssen, und die allgemeine Betreuung der Patienten werden auch für andere Situationen relevant sein […] Palliativbetreuung sollte nicht nur Teil der Onkologie sein, sondern der Geriatrie, Allgemeinmedizin, Neurologie und überall in der Medizin.“ Konnte dieses Postulat inzwischen verwirklicht werden?
Schlüsselwörter
Palliativversorgung - Palliativmedizin - nicht-onkologische Erkrankungen - Krankheitsverläufe
Key words
palliative care - non-malignant disease - disease process
