Family doctors provide comfort for dying patients and their families
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR: PALLIATIVE CARE AND DYING
AMA Family Doctor Week 16-22 July 2012
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that the importance of the doctor-patient relationship is just as strong at the end of a patient’s life as it is at birth and through the other stages of life.
Dr Hambleton said that family doctors could be relied upon to assist patients through the dying process and to help their families deal with this difficult time.
“Family doctors are there to offer assistance to families and patients throughout the dying period,” Dr Hambleton said.
“It is a highly emotional time and a highly reflective time for families and it is important to maintain the best possible physical and mental condition for dying patients to assist them to communicate their wishes to family members and carers.
“Family doctors are excellent listeners and can help people with advanced care directives to ensuring that all aspects of their care – including their health, spiritual and mental needs – are being met.
“Family members and friends of the dying will often need help as part of the grieving process, and doctors will remain vigilant for signs of mental distress or risk taking behaviour.
“Death is a sad part of the work of every family doctor. If the doctor has known the patient for a long time and provided care for the family through the stages of life, it can be like a member of their own family has died.”
You can view Dr Hambleton’s YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR: PALLIATIVE CARE AND DYING message at http://youtu.be/d0FsFLbMACc
Family Doctor Week is a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the nation’s family doctors – the GPs who serve local communities in the cities, the suburbs, rural centres, country towns, and remote areas of Australia.
This year, the theme is Family Doctor Week: For a Lifetime of Trusted Care.
Each day this week, the AMA will focus on a stage of life and the key role that family doctors play in helping their patients throughout that stage.
22 July 2012
CONTACT: Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
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