Key Principles of Palliative Care

Prior to opening Anthem Hospice, Dr. Khalid Shirif served as the medical director of several other end-of-life care programs in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Khalid Shirif holds American College of Surgeon board certifications in, general surgery, and palliative care.

The decision to enter palliative care can be emotionally difficult for patients and their families. Palliative care providers follow several principles to ensure that every patient receives the best possible care. This includes the following concepts that are common to all end-of-life care:

Autonomy: Effective palliative care is patient-focused and considers the patient and their families’ preferences, cultural and religious beliefs, and end-of-life wishes. Patients can also make important decisions regarding their care.

Holistic: Palliative care goes beyond treating the disease and managing physical symptoms. It often also includes mental health and emotional support, spiritual counseling, and assistance for close family members.

Contextualization: Since palliative care can begin at any point during the course of a life-threatening illness, it is essential that care practices accurately reflect the patient’s condition. For example, neglecting to treat a patient in the early stages of a terminal illness or administering intrusive therapies at the end of the disease course are both against palliative care ethics.