1. ANIP’s position on the proper advancement of the palliative care concept in Romania and on the unified and comprehensive development of services at the national level.
- Author
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Poroch, Vladimir and Moșoiu, Daniela
- Subjects
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TERMINALLY ill , *PALLIATIVE treatment , *ASSISTED suicide , *MEDICAL personnel , *PAIN management , *EUTHANASIA laws - Abstract
This document presents the position of the National Association for Palliative Care (ANIP) regarding palliative care in Romania. It defines key concepts, outlines the general principles of palliative care, summarizes the current state of palliative services in Romania, discusses the challenges of integrating these services into the healthcare system, and it offers recommendations for improving access to palliative care. Key points included in the document: 1. Definition and scope of palliative care. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with lifethreatening illnesses, manage pain, and address holistic needs (physical, psycho-emotional, social, and spiritual). Palliative care starts from the moment of diagnosis, continues throughout the illness alongside the etiological treatment, and includes support for the family during the patient’s illness and after their death, providing assistance during the grieving period. 2. Misconceptions about palliative care. ANIP highlights widespread misconceptions about palliative care, emphasizing that it is not limited to terminally ill patients or those with cancer, but it applies to a broad range of patients with progressive chronic diseases. ANIP stresses the need to correct these misconceptions through better education and information for healthcare professionals and the general public, in order to understand the benefits of palliative care. 3. Legal and ethical aspects. The document reaffirms ANIP’s firm opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide, focusing on palliative care as a solution for alleviating suffering without hastening death. It also supports patients’ rights to be compassionately and honestly informed about their health status and to be involved with their families in planning the care. 4. Current challenges. Despite significant progress over the last decades, palliative care services in Romania are unevenly developed, with a focus on inpatient palliative units. Home-based and outpatient palliative care services are insufficiently developed. Funding mechanisms are also limited, affecting the expansion of services, especially those outside hospitals, in the community. 5. Human resources. Although training courses for doctors, nurses, and other staff specific to interdisciplinary palliative care teams exist, the number of specialized personnel is insufficient. 6. Recommendations. These include improving funding for palliative services, developing home-based and outpatient care services, stimulating professional training (especially in areas with limited or no services), and re-establishing a dedicated palliative care committee within the Ministry of Health. The document also proposes launching a national awareness campaign to increase understanding of palliative care and its benefits. ANIP advocates for recognizing palliative care as a universal human right, ensuring prompt access to these services for all patients in need, regardless of location or financial status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024