James L. Hallenbeck

Drawing from his extensive clinical experience and many years of teaching, Dr. Hallenbeck has written a guide to palliative care for clinicians. Topics addressed range from an overview of death and dying to specific approaches to symptom management. As an introduction to both the art and science of palliative care, this book reflects the perspectives of one physician who has dedicated his career to this rapidly evolving field. The book links real stories of illness with practical advice, thereby delineating clinical practice in a way that reflects the daily concerns of clinicians.… (más)

This is a compassionate, approachable discussion of the branch of medicine focussed on treating dying patients, making them more comfortable as they near the end of life, rather than on trying to treat their illnesses in the hope of a cure. It is written for medical professionals, but I am not a medical professional, and I found it very informative. The first section discusses the way in which the development of modern medicine has changed the profession's approach to treating the dying: much of the change has been positive, but some of it has actually made things much harder for the dying and for those who love them. The author then discusses the growth of the hospice movement, and the development of palliative care as a speciality within that movement. Then, he discusses the issue of determining how long someone is likely to live, a critical issue in deciding -- and in helping them decide -- how they should be cared for. Then he moves on to question of symptom management, stressing that what matters here is how the patient experiences the symptoms, and what that patient wants out of treatment. The next section, on pain management, contains a lot of very specific medical information, but laypeople who are caring for dying loved ones often become (and need to become) surprisingly expert in these matters. This section may be somewhat out of date, but it will at least suggest questions to ask. The next section covers management of non-pain symptoms, and the balance of the book discusses broader issues involved in palliative care.

Throughout the book, the focus is patients' needs. The author's approach is humane, open-minded, and oriented to effective reseults. Dr. Hallenbeck clearly believes that listening is a key skill, and has as clearly listened carefully to his patients, and learned a great deal from them. That orientation has a lot to do with making this book a positive one to read, as well as a source of a great deal of useful information. From other reviews, it seems that medical professionals find it very useful. So too did this non-professional -- so much so, that it will affect the choices I make when I am next responsible for the care of a dear one who is dying, and when my own time comes.… (más)