Praxis
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WHO describes palliative care as the approach to patients with incurable illnesses. It covers identification and treatment of pain and other physical symptoms, psychological, social, and spiritual difficulties. A tight cooperation between the family doctor, the hospital (medical clinic with the subspecialists, geriatric and palliative care centre), the Spitex, the social, psychological, and the pastoral workers is needed. ⋯ The specific interventions may include irradiation, stenting of bile ducts, oesophagus or colon, hormonal treatment etc. A very important aspect is pain control and the correct handling of non-opioid analgesics, opioids, and co-analgesics. The terminal phase at home is a special challenge for the family doctor acting as a palliative physician.