Thread by @AmitAryaMD

1/ There’s no debate- #palliativecare doesn’t hasten death, in fact for cancer pts it prolongs life. Even #palliative sedation doesn’t hasten death! The myth that a palliative approach shortens life (e.g. via opioid use) and is “giving up” is something we combat everyday.

https://twitter.com/jgdownie/status/1094354870264565764

2/ These “palliphobias” can lead to delayed symptom management, prognostication and advance care planning- this problem is very dangerous and pervasive, whether the patient wishes to die via #MAID or not. Not at all against #MAID at all but it does differ in intent.

3/ Anecdotally- have had several cases where well-meaning specialists didn’t recognize #palliative needs early. By the time we saw it was too late to request MAID, pt had lost capacity and had suffered greatly. No one had talked about EOL planning before me! #hpm