American College of Surgeons’ Statement of Principles of Palliative Care |
Respect the dignity & autonomy of patients & caregivers. |
Honor the right of the competent patient or surrogate to choose among treatments, including those that may or may not prolong life. |
Communicate effectively with patients, families, caregivers. |
Identify the primary goals of care from the patient’s perspective and address how the surgeon’s care can achieve these goals. |
Strive to alleviate pain and other burdensome symptoms. |
Recognize, assess, discuss, and offer services for psychological, social, spiritual issues. |
Provide access to therapeutic support. |
Recognize the physician’s responsibility to discourage treatments that are unlikely to achieve the patient’s goals. |
Arrange for continuity of care thus alleviating the sense of abandonment that patients may feel when “curative” therapies are no longer useful. |
Maintain a collegial & supportive attitude towards others entrusted with the care of the patient. |