Pain relief at the end-of-life: a clinical guide.

Abstract Abstract Abstract Abstract Pain at the end-of-life is usually treatable, but most dying patients are under-treated and die in unnecessary pain. This brief overview will serve to describe the problem of pain at the end-of-life, define the relevant ethical, medical, scientific, and societal issues, and present an optimal pain management plan for this vulnerable and important population. The most important factor is for physicians to make pain control a matter of paramount importance in the care of dying patients. Intr Significant pain is Significant pain is Significant pain is Significant pain is present in the majority esent in the majority esent in the majority esent in the majority esent in the majority of patients dying of of patients dying of of patients dying of of patients dying of of patients dying of chronic diseases such as onic diseases such as onic diseases such as onic diseases such as onic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart , diabetes, heart , diabetes, heart , diabetes, heart , diabetes, heart and lung disease. and lung disease. and lung disease. and lung disease. and lung disease. burdens, cost, myths about pain and pain medicines, and ignorance. Significant pain is present in the majority of patients dying of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease. 3 Optimal end-of-life care in dying patients entails relief of suffering and aggressive treatment of painful symptoms. Pain at the end-of- life is usually treatable, but most patients are under-treated. 4