title: Chronic illnesses and the end of life.
abstract: Great progress has been made in controlling the symptom distress of dying patients. This article reviews some of these methods and examines some triggering events that should cause physicians to re-examine patients' goals and care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, and Courtesy Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. david@hospicedoctor.net
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McGrew
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D019468:Disease Management; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology