| Abstrakt: |
In recent years, palliative care has become the dominant concept in the care of patients in the last phase of their life, especially for those patients who no longer respond to curative interventions and who ultimately face death. The surge in interest in palliative care in the Netherlands is remarkable. The concept is certainly not a new medical phenomenon. The relief of suffering of those in pain has been one of the goals of medicine since it was first formulated and has become standard practice over time. New to this development in the Netherlands, however, is the interest that has risen under the pressure of developments in and outside the country. In the Netherlands, the number of hospices is comparatively small, yet the movement has a considerable impact on the national debate concerning the care of the terminally ill. In addition, the outcome of the international debate about medical decisions toward the end of life caused the government to formulate its policy regarding the care of the terminally ill. In 1996, the government issued a letter explaining its policy with regard to palliative care in the Netherlands. |
