Before the 1970s, little research had been done to guide the clinician caring for dying patients. But the emergence of the hospice movement in the early 1980s made the public aware of the medical community's deficiencies in dealing with pain and symptom control in dying patients. Partly as a result of that increased awareness, important strides have been made in palliative care. In The Medical Care of Terminally Ill Patients Robert E. Enck, M.D., has written a handbook for health professionals engaged in the daily practice of caring for terminally ill patients.
For each topic, the author discusses the underlying scientific principles and the clinical applications. A significant portion of the book is devoted to the care of patients with advanced cancer, but the theories and techniques apply to nonmalignant diseases such as dementia, motor neuron diseases, and AIDS as well. The author pays special attention to issues related to controlling pain--by far the most common symptom of terminal illness--including the use of drugs, routes of administering drugs, pharmacologic complications, and surgery. Each chapter ends with a useful summary of its contents.
Throughout, Enck places great emphasis on enhancing the patient's quality of life for whatever time remains. Clearly organized and annotated, The Care of Terminally Ill Patients is a valuable handbook and ready resource for physicians and other health care professionals faced with the complexities of caring for dying patients.
