Gian Domenico Borasio – författare

Palliative care is the duty of every neurologist: however, to date, this has not been a standard feature of neurological practice or training. This book helps define a new field, namely palliative care in neurology. It brings together all necessary information for neurologists caring for a patient with advance disease.Palliative care is an approach to the management of patients with life-threatening illness that attempts to enhance comfort, relieve psychosocial and spiritual distress, assure respect for decision making, provide support for the family, and prepare the patient and family for the end of life. This unique book covers each of the many dimensions of palliative care as they relate to patients with advanced neurological disorders. Basic principles of palliative care and specific ethical issues (such as euthanasia, food and hydration and advance directives) are covered. The needs of populations with specific neurological disorders are described and the management of symptoms that are common to all is explored in detail. Each chapter introduces its topic using a case report that may be used directly for teaching purposes. The authors have put together an invaluable resource, which lays the foundation for further research in the field.

Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or motor neurone disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that can cause profound suffering for both the patient and their family. Whilst new treatments for ALS are being developed, these are not curative and offer only the potential to slow its progression. Palliative care must therefore be integral to the clinical approach to the disease. Palliative Care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: From diagnosis to bereavement reflects the wide scope of this care; it must cover not just the terminal phase, but support the patient and their family from the onset of the disease. Both the multidisciplinary palliative care team and the neurology team are essential in providing a high standard of care and allowing quality of life (both patient and carer) to be maintained. Clear guidelines are provided to address care throughout the disease process. Control of symptoms is covered alongside the psychosocial care of patients and their families. Case studies are used to emphasise the complexity of the care needs and involvement of the patient and family, culminating in discussion of bereavement. Different models of care are explored, and this new edition utilizes the increase in both the evidence-base and available literature on the subject. New topics discussed include complementary therapies, personal and family experiences of ALS, new genetics research, and updated guidelines for patient care, to ensure this new edition remains the essential guide to palliative care in ALS.

Die medizinethische Diskussion steht in der Gefahr unter einem fortschreitenden Rechtsdruck das anthropologische Grundphänomen des Sterbens immer mehr aus dem Blick zu verlieren. Sollen Sterben und Tod nicht zur Projektionsfläche diffuser Ängste und Befürchtungen werden, dann ist es dringend erforderlich, die verschiedenen Dimensionen der Begegnung des Menschen mit seiner eigenen Sterblichkeit möglichst vorurteilsfrei auszuleuchten. Der interdisziplinäre Aufbau des vorliegenden Bandes ermöglicht nicht nur einen Einblick in die Komplexität der weithin verdrängten Thematik des Sterbens, sondern vermittelt auch einen breiten Überblick über die Möglichkeiten zeitgemäßer Palliativmedizin sowie der ihr zugrundliegenden ethischen Reflexion.