A terminal illness is an incurable disease that is ultimately fatal. Treatment is usually withdrawn, and palliative care is provided to make the final stages of the illness as comfortable as possible. Counseling and support are recommended for patients and their families.
A terminal illness is an infection or disease that is considered ultimately fatal or incurable. Usually a patient is considered terminally ill if they seem likely to die despite diagnosis and treatment, although people with a terminal illness may live for years before succumbing to the medical condition. Some cancers are terminal, as are the final stages of diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Diagnosis of terminal illness can be a traumatic event for a patient and her family, and is usually accompanied by offers of psychological counseling and similar assistance.
Medical professionals strive to identify and treat diseases and infections in their early stages. However, sometimes a disease goes undetected, a patient cannot afford proper treatment, or the disease is virulent enough to resist medical intervention. Once a doctor recognizes that she can no longer reasonably expect to treat the disease or infection, the focus turns to comforting the dying patient.
Usually, once a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness, treatment efforts are withdrawn. Often, treatment for a serious illness can be as painful and uncomfortable as the illness itself. If the treatment is no longer effective, there is no clear reason for a patient to continue taking it. The decision to stop treatment is usually made by the patient and his or her doctor, and most terminally ill patients take an active role in medical treatment. Terminally ill patients often write directives outlining how they would like to be cared for at the end of their life and ask a family member to ensure their wishes are followed through.
Patients with a terminal illness often undergo palliative care, which provides pain relief and other measures designed to make the final stages of terminal illness as comfortable as possible. Palliative care facilities do not usually engage in life-saving measures such as resuscitating patients or emotionally and physically draining treatments such as chemotherapy. Staff in palliative care settings seek to ensure that their patients die in a dignified and comfortable way, free from fear and pain.
Being informed that your medical condition is terminal can be a very intense experience. Most doctors are aware of this and pay attention when informing patients and family members. Additionally, bereavement counseling is highly recommended for both the patient and their family. A terminal illness gives everyone involved a period of time to come to terms with death, which can be very valuable. Terminally ill patients need the support and love of their friends and family, and comforting the dying is one of the most important acts of compassion anyone can perform.
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