CHANGES NEEDED TO BOOST END-OF-LIFE CARE, DOCTORS SAY

Canada needs to broaden its approach to palliative care to support to patients with serious chronic illnesses, not just those with cancer, suggests a group of doctors who deal with end-oflife care. Writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the specialists suggest major changes are needed to improve access to palliative care, especially for patients with such conditions as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Canada is ranked 18th out of 80 countries by the Economist intelligence unit for provision of palliative care.