| Abstract: | Discusses 4 ethical issues that arise in hospice care: (1) What are the ethical responsibilities to the patient, family, and authorities when hospice workers discover that a patient has been given incompetent and shoddy care at a previous institution? (2) Hospices that advertise themselves as offering complete care should be prepared to deal with psychological and legal issues as well as medical ones. (3) The idea of treating the entire person must include responding to the likelihood that the patient and family may raise profound philosophical and religious questions. (4) Hospice staff should periodically examine themselves on a spiritual or philosophical level. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
