Publications by authors named "Kathleen M McKillip"
Patterns of Palliative Treatments in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- The 5-year survival rate for esophageal cancer is below 20%, but early palliative treatments can enhance quality of life and reduce depression without affecting life expectancy.
- A study analyzed 43,599 stage IV esophageal cancer patients from 2004 to 2018 to examine the factors influencing the use of palliative care, revealing that only 26.1% received such interventions.
- Most patients who received palliative treatment were non-Hispanic white males aged 61 to 75, often treated at comprehensive cancer programs, and primarily reliant on Medicare with median household incomes over $48,000.
Context: Despite high rates of mortality among infants in the Southern U.S., little is known about the timing of pediatric palliative care (PPC), the intensity of end-of-life care, and whether there are differences among sociodemographic characteristics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: Clinicians at the bedside regularly encounter surprises or unexpected clinical developments that carry emotional, social, or moral overtones-especially when death is anticipated or when patients are particularly vulnerable. In such circumstances, clinicians may struggle to find practical clarity in making treatment plans that honor their fiduciary (literally, "entrusted") duty to uphold equitably the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, patient autonomy, and justice. : We present the case of a patient who appeared to be actively dying and received an indwelling urinary catheter for the purpose of ensuring comfort.
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