The Power of Palliative Care: A Physician’s Perspective

By Dr. Mo Rezaie

A Misunderstood Mission

One of the most significant misconceptions about palliative care is that it’s solely focused on end-of-life care. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Palliative medicine is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on improving the quality of life for people living with serious illnesses. By addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, palliative care helps patients and their families navigate difficult times with grace and dignity.

Beyond Physical Symptoms

While palliative care can certainly help manage physical symptoms like pain and fatigue, it goes far beyond that. It’s about addressing the whole person, including their emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. This might involve counseling, support groups, or spiritual guidance.

The Importance of Early Palliative Care

Many people believe that palliative care is only for those in the final stages of life. However, palliative care can be beneficial at any stage of an illness. Early palliative care can help patients and their families make informed decisions about treatment options, manage symptoms effectively, and improve quality of life.

A Growing Need

Despite its many benefits, palliative care remains underutilized. There is a significant shortage of palliative care physicians, and many healthcare providers are not adequately trained to provide palliative care. This can lead to suboptimal care for patients with serious illnesses.

A Call to Action

To address this growing need, we must increase awareness of palliative care and encourage more healthcare providers to specialize in this field. By working together, we can ensure that all patients have access to the compassionate and effective care they deserve.

A Personal Perspective

As a palliative care physician, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformative power of this specialty. By focusing on the patient’s overall well-being, we can help them live their best lives, even in the face of serious illness.

Morvarid “Mo” Rezaie, DO, HMDC, FACOI is a Palliative Medicine physician at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.