title: [Palliative care in Japan--current status and future].
abstract: This review paper identifies the current challenges in palliative care in Japan and proposes multiple areas to be improved in future, including respect for the individuality of patients and families, early referrals to specialized palliative care service, availability of medical treatments in specialized palliative care facilities, quality control of specialized palliative care systems, establishment of regional palliative care programs, dissemination of education programs at the various levels, and organizing a multicenter research network.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Palliative and Supportive Care, Palliative Care Team and Seirei Hospice, Seirei Mikatabara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006699:Home Care Services; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007564:Japan; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards