Palliative Care Ethics First, Do No Harm

In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Danielle Noreika, Palliative Care physician and Director of the Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine program at VCU, about the intersection of palliative and hospice care and what makes this area unique with respect to medical ethics. The discussion explores the ethics of defining comfort versus life-prolonging care, especially with respect to withdrawing versus withholding life prolonging care for comfort measures, and how to communicate effectively with the patient and their family on end of life care issues. We also reflect on how successful outcomes are objectively measured within the field of palliative care since it differs from most other specialities in medicine in dealing with complex medical issues and ethical dilemmas.