Journal
of Pain and Symptom Management; 2018 55(2) p. 535-539
Shinall,
Myrick C; Stahl, Devan; Bibler, Trevor M
Ill
patients may make decisions to continue aggressive life-prolonging care based
on hope for a miraculous recovery, and clinicians can find goals of care
discussions with these patients extremely challenging.This
case presents a typology of ways patients express hope for a miracle along with
analysis of the motivations and beliefs underlying such hopes and suggestions
for tailored responses by palliative care providers.