There are several unique aspects of palliative care in neurology as compared with palliative care in other patient populations. This article serves as a checklist to identify patients requiring palliative care in neurology, further providing a quick view of available guidelines and relevant issues in providing optimum care.
INDICATIONS FOR PALLIATIVE CARE Limited lifespan of 6–12 months Distressing symptoms Need for end-of-life planning PALLIATIVE CARE PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES Early consideration of palliative care Use of multidisciplinary teams Open communication Communicate with empathy and compassion Authentic and active listening Effective sharing of information Communication of prognosis Use ethical principles in communication Use early advance care planning Help family establish goals of care Engage family in shared ethical decision-making Early identification…
