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eCAM Advance Access originally published online on April 27, 2005
eCAM 2005 2(2):227-231; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh089
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© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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Commentary

An Ethical Argument for Integrated Palliative Care

Shay Beider

The Heart Touch Project, Santa Monica CA 90405, USA

‘In the midst of life, we are in death’

from The Book of Common Prayer

The Palliative Care, or comfort care, movement in the USA is on the rise. Currently, palliative services are not integrated in an organized way throughout healthcare. If we accept the argument that palliative care is ethically desirable and that all patients are entitled to palliative services regardless of a terminal diagnosis, it follows that it needs to be integrated across a wide range of healthcare services. Ethical questions regarding palliative care and well-known ethical frameworks are discussed and an argument is made for integrating palliative healthcare services throughout the healthcare system and not simply at the end of life. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are discussed as useful and necessary components of palliative care. If we as a society look beyond separating cures and palliation, we will come closer to incorporating compassionate care throughout the disease process.

Keywords: comfort – pain management – quality of life – end of life – well-being

For reprints and all correspondence: Shay Beider, The Heart Touch Project, Director of the Children's Program, 3400 Airport Ave., Suite 42, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA. Tel: +1-310-391-2558 ext. 4; Fax: +1-310-391-2168; E-mail: shay{at}hearttouch.org


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