Medicina paliativa en cirugía

Abstract

The concepts and background of palliative medicine, the patient-health team relationship and the right of the patients to receive palliative care, its application in surgery, the criterion defining the terminally ill, proportionate and disproportionate measures, where it is applied and what this consists of, drugs and procedures used, who should administrate them and for how long, the requirements for advanc directives and avoidance of therapeutic obstinacy, were reviewed. It describes and reflects their ethical and legal bases. It describes the main changes to the law in México in 2009 and 2012. It concludes that palliative medicine is not against scientific and technological progress, but promotes its appropriate use with respect to the will and dignity of the patient. It should be applied by a multidisciplinary team, who accompany the patient throughout the progression of their condition, strengthening the doctor's and health team's relationship with the patients and their families.

Between illness and death: Ó?EuthanasiaÓ�

“…In this train of thought, there is no doubt that, to those scientific and technological advances that have saved many lives and cured many diseases, palliative medicine has been added, which is not opposed to these advances, but strives for their proper use, with a humanist sense in which respect for the patient will and autonomy prevails. The palliative medicine team intervenes and accompanies the patient from the initial moment, throughout the evolution of the disease and the diagnostic and therapeutic process, a time during which the doctor relationship with the patient and the family is strengthened 22 .…”

Entre la enfermedad y la muerte: «Eutanasia»

“…En este orden de ideas, es indudable que a los avances científicos y tecnológicos que han salvado muchas vidas y curado muchas enfermedades se ha sumado la medicina paliativa, la cual no es contraria a dichos avances, pero pugna por su adecuado uso, con un sentido humanista en el que prevalece el respeto a la voluntad y la autonomía del enfermo. El equipo de medicina paliativa interviene y acompaña al enfermo desde el momento inicial, durante toda la evolución de la enfermedad y el proceso diagnóstico y terapéutico, tiempo en que se fortalece la relación del médico con el paciente y la familia 22 .…”