Hospice Care: Prioritizing Comfort and Care for Terminally Ill Patients

What is the approach to dying that emphasizes 'comfort and care'?

a) Mercy death

b) Mercy killing

c) The 'Kevorkian' approach

d) Hospice

Answer:

The approach to dying that emphasizes 'comfort and care' is known as hospice.

Hospice is a type of specialized care provided to individuals who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. It focuses on enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families by prioritizing pain management, emotional support, and spiritual care.

Hospice care is delivered by a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and counselors. They collaborate to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient, ensuring their comfort and dignity throughout the dying process.

Unlike mercy death and mercy killing, which involve intentional actions to end a person's life, hospice care is about providing compassionate care rather than hastening death. The 'Kevorkian' approach, on the other hand, refers to physician-assisted suicide, which is not the same as hospice care.

By choosing hospice, patients and their families can receive comprehensive support to navigate the end-of-life journey with dignity and comfort.