An ATS policy statement on palliative care for people with serious respiratory illness has reinforced the importance of introducing palliative care early in the care continuum. Presented at ATS 2022, the long awaited update of a 2008 statement also fleshes...

An ATS policy statement on palliative care for people with serious respiratory illness has reinforced the importance of introducing palliative...

Lung cancer is the leading reason for people with terminal illness to seek medical assistance to end their lives, according to the latest figures from Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. However other serious respiratory conditions such as COPD were infrequently...

Lung cancer is the leading reason for people with terminal illness to seek medical assistance to end their lives, according...

Palliative care provides numerous benefits for people with non-cancer advanced respiratory disease, so why is it so little used for patients with a high levels of needs? Respiratory and palliative care physicians from Victoria have investigated why...

Palliative care provides numerous benefits for people with non-cancer advanced respiratory disease, so why is it so little...

For patients with advanced cancer-associated dyspnoea, a hierarchical approach beginning with an assessment and non-pharmacologic interventions before moving on to pharmacologic options is recommended, according to a new guideline from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). “[Dyspnoea] is one...

For patients with advanced cancer-associated dyspnoea, a hierarchical approach beginning with an assessment and non-pharmacologic interventions before moving on to...

The trajectories of functional decline and overall symptom burden are surprisingly similar in patients with end-stage lung cancer and those with non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases. The evidence supports the ongoing call for improved access to palliative care in non-cancer patients. According to...

The trajectories of functional decline and overall symptom burden are surprisingly similar in patients with end-stage lung cancer and those...

Most people with cancer want to discuss end-of-life care but there is an ongoing lack of discussion between patients and their doctors, Australian research shows. The advocacy group Advance Care Planning Australia is urging oncologists to promote the uptake of advance...

Most people with cancer want to discuss end-of-life care but there is an ongoing lack of discussion between patients and...

Consider for a moment how it might feel to be told you have a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Uncertainty? Fear? Grief? Everything is different, and your family and friends matter more than ever. Now consider the same advanced cancer diagnosis and picture...

Consider for a moment how it might feel to be told you have a diagnosis of advanced cancer. Uncertainty? Fear?...

Sustained-release morphine (Kapanol) tablets will be listed on the PBS from 1 September for the management of chronic breathlessness in palliative care settings. The listing will provide subsidised treatment  for symptomatic relief of chronic breathlessness in patients with advanced COPD, cardiac...

Sustained-release morphine (Kapanol) tablets will be listed on the PBS from 1 September for the management of chronic breathlessness in...

Functional decline at the end of life shows two distinct trajectories for patients with conditions such as lung cancer and COPD compared to those with more stable illnesses such as dementia, an Australian study has shown. The finding that functional decline for...

Functional decline at the end of life shows two distinct trajectories for patients with conditions such as lung cancer and COPD...

Low dose morphine capsules have been licensed by the TGA for the treatment of chronic breathlessness. The re-purposing of Kapanol sustained-release capsules (10mg and 20mg) from use in chronic pain to chronic breathlessness has been welcomed by palliative care specialist Professor...

Low dose morphine capsules have been licensed by the TGA for the treatment of chronic breathlessness. The re-purposing of Kapanol sustained-release...

Frank discussions about the likely benefits and downsides of home oxygen are needed to manage expectations of patients with chronic breathlessness syndrome and their carers, Australian research suggests. Qualitative research  from South Australia involving semi-structured interviews with 19 breathless patients revealed...

Frank discussions about the likely benefits and downsides of home oxygen are needed to manage expectations of patients with chronic...

De-prescribing will help relieve the pill burden for lung cancer patients who are often taking unnecessary preventive medications such as statins and antihypertensives in the advanced stages of their disease, a study shows. A retrospective review of medical records for patients...

De-prescribing will help relieve the pill burden for lung cancer patients who are often taking unnecessary preventive medications such as...

One quarter of cancer patients are paying more than $20,000 in up-front doctors' fees for their treatment, a new study suggests. Australian researchers linked data from 452 patients with melanoma and breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer to Medicare data on...

One quarter of cancer patients are paying more than $20,000 in up-front doctors' fees for their treatment, a new study...

Palliative medicine clinicians are warning against a regulatory move to curtail GPs’ powers to prescribe opioids. The controversial idea to limit prescribing of Schedule 8 opioids to specialist/authority prescribing or to "certain classes of medical practitioners" was put forward in a...

Palliative medicine clinicians are warning against a regulatory move to curtail GPs’ powers to prescribe opioids. The controversial idea to limit...

A shared care program where people with advanced COPD are seen regularly by respiratory and palliative care teams in their own home has been met with enthusiasm from respiratory physicians and patients and their families. The program run out of...

A shared care program where people with advanced COPD are seen regularly by respiratory and palliative care teams in their...

An online course to open up discussion and remove the stigma around palliative care and dying has proved hugely popular with health professionals as well as the community. Dying2Learn, a free, five-week massive online open course (MOOC) developed by a team...

An online course to open up discussion and remove the stigma around palliative care and dying has proved hugely popular...

Terminally ill patients who have early access to home-based palliative care have fewer hospital admissions at the end of their lives, raising questions about the fiscal wisdom of time-based restrictions on such services. Researchers at Curtin University looked at the relationship between...

Terminally ill patients who have early access to home-based palliative care have fewer hospital admissions at the end of their...

All hospitals and healthcare providers will need to have systems to support optimum end-of-life care under new national quality standards to be introduced in 2019. Routine provision of advanced care plans, substitute decision makers and shared decision making will be key...

All hospitals and healthcare providers will need to have systems to support optimum end-of-life care under new national quality standards...

End-of-life care is not a specialty, it is everyone’s business. The rapid increase in population aging is a worldwide issue [1], although it is more pronounced in the developed world, bringing about obvious...

End-of-life care is not a specialty, it is everyone’s business. The rapid increase...

Many doctors are confused about when it's safe for their patients with advanced stage disease to get behind the wheel, a new study reports. In the first survey to investigate the practice of Australian doctors assessing fitness to drive researchers...

Many doctors are confused about when it's safe for their patients with advanced stage disease to get behind the wheel,...

A symptom support and palliative care special interest group just approved by the TSANZ Board is believed to be the first SIG of its kind in respiratory societies around the world. The multidisciplinary SIG aims to improve the care of patients...

A symptom support and palliative care special interest group just approved by the TSANZ Board is believed to be the...

A proposed model of a care for embedding palliative care into the routine care of patients with COPD will help counter patient and physician concerns, an expert says. Dr Natasha Smallwood, who leads the Advanced Lung Disease Service at the Royal...

A proposed model of a care for embedding palliative care into the routine care of patients with COPD will help...

The Victorian Parliament will consider a bill to legalise euthanasia in the second half of 2017. That follows the South Australian Parliament’s decision to knock back a voluntary euthanasia bill late last year, and the...

The Victorian Parliament will consider a bill to legalise euthanasia in the second half of 2017....

Just before Christmas 2016, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handed down a historic judgement in a case brought by the veteran advocate for assisted dying, Dr Rodney Syme. This followed a decision, which was then referred to...

Just before Christmas 2016, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) handed down a historic judgement in a case...

Palliative care consultant Dr Mark Taubert gives his top tips for healthcare professionals who are going to engage in sensitive CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Do Not Attempt CPR  discussions with patients near the end of life. Dr Taubert and his team...

Palliative care consultant Dr Mark Taubert gives his top tips for healthcare professionals who are going to engage in sensitive...

Did you know that over 62,000 hospitalisations in 2013 were palliative care-related?  For more key facts on palliative care services in Australia check out this infographic from the AIHW.   ...

Did you know that over 62,000 hospitalisations in 2013 were palliative care-related?  For more key facts on palliative care services...