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The Physician’s Role in Responding to Existential Suffering: What Does It Mean to Comfort Always?
The Doctor's Role in Easing Deep Emotional Suffering: What Does It Mean to Always Provide Comfort?
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Abstract
Existential suffering is commonly experienced by patients with serious medical illnesses.
- Patients with incurable diseases often face existential suffering alongside physical and psychological symptoms.
- Palliative care clinicians may struggle to identify and address existential suffering due to various barriers.
- Barriers include lack of training, time constraints, and difficulties in recognizing existential distress.
- Mental health and spiritual care providers are important for addressing existential needs, but palliative care clinicians can coordinate resources effectively.
- A case presentation illustrates existential distress in a patient and provides a framework for palliative care clinicians to assess and address these issues.
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