Abstract

VARELA, Tânia Caeiro. How much is lacking for patients with palliative needs in Portugal: a discussion after an international internship. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2023, vol.39, n.1, pp.79-83.  Epub Mar 30, 2023. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v39i1.13514.

In the context of the optional internships of the specific training in general and family medicine, I performed three internships at the National Health Service, in the various types of palliative care that exist and that, with some differences, also exist in the SNS. This experience allowed me to find differences that I believe can feed the necessary discussion about the changes to be carried out in a national context. On the other hand, they allowed me a different perspective of our reality, the path already taken, but also the one we still have ahead of us. I believe that there is an urgent need for a discussion on three topics that seem to me to be very important so that the quality of care provided is effectively what we want in a SNS that intends to take care of every Portuguese in a holistic way: fast track for patients and families with palliative needs, respect for the autonomy of patients and families and the sharing of experiences and errors among professionals, which can lead to collective growth in this area.

Keywords : Palliative care; Dignity; Autonomy; Patient centered care.

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