Must a patient wait for his/her physician to recommend hospice before seeking hospice support?
A. No. Although most physicians are familiar with hospice and with the signs and symptoms of impending death, some may delay in suggesting hospice in favor of further curative treatments. As the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Living and Dying with Dignity reported, hospice care, a reasonable alternative to futile medical care, is not considered often or early enough. If a patient or his/her family feels that they would benefit from hospice, they may make a self-referral.
Related Questions
- Should a person wait for a doctor to recommend the possibility of hospice, or should the patient raise the propriety of hospice first?
- Must a patient wait for his/her physician to recommend hospice before seeking hospice support?
- hould I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise it first?
