Abstract:

Consultations of palliative care (PC) patients (oncological and non-oncological) to the Emergency Department (ED) occur with a certain frequency, especially when approaching the end of life. The approach of palliative medicine (based on the patient and its quality of life) and the approach of emergency medicine (disease-based) are in apparent divergence; and there are still no established norms on the role of PC in the ED. On the other hand, education in PC to medical students, residents, specialists and general health personnel is scarce. This review discusses the importance of PC in ED, their integration, the approach, the barriers of attention, the benefits and the value of adding PC to academic training.