Embracing palliative care over futile treatments

Embracing palliative care over futile treatments (Photo: iStock)

One of my colleagues recently faced the death of a dear family member following a rapidly progressive terminal illness. It wasn't easy for anyone in the family, but they dealt with the terminal disease in a very pragmatic way. They understood that a terminal illness cannot be cured or adequately controlled, and death was inevitable within a short period. In medical timelines, one is considered terminally ill if they are expected to die within six months, even though this is an arbitrary estimate and is rarely accurate.

Once a terminal illness is diagnosed, the realisation of impending demise introduces a whole range of reactions in individuals and family members. You will go through various stages of acceptance, ranging from disbelief to extreme anxiety, shock, despair and anger. Individuals diagnosed may slip into depression, and this may last throughout the illness. The end goal is to find some acceptance of the diagnosis and the eventual inevitability of death.