AMA: Palliative care is essential for seriously ill patients—at any age

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates recently adopted new policies outlining physicians’ ethical obligation to “provide or seek optimal palliative care for patients with serious illnesses who can benefit from comprehensive management of pain and other distressing symptoms—not only those with terminal illnesses or on the precipice of death.” According to the AMA News Wire, the AMA will “work with interested state medical societies and medical specialty societies and vigorously advocate for broad, equitable access to palliative care, including hospice, to ensure that all populations, particularly those from underserved or marginalized communities, have access to these essential services.”

Palliative care is essential for seriously ill patients—at any age | American Medical Association