Promoting effective social work policy in end-of-life and palliative care.
Policy developments in the health care arena in general, and in end-of-life and palliative care in particular, strongly influence the practice environment for the delivery of hospice and palliative care services and the diverse roles of social work practitioners. This article analyzes policy developments in two crucial areas-ethics and law and disenfranchisement and health disparities. It focuses on the recent social work literature and other key sources and provides recommendations to promote the roles of social workers in ethics consultation, public policy, and advocacy and to integrate better the perspectives and concerns of diverse communities into palliative care practice, education, and policy.
Stein
Gary L
GL
New Jersey Health Decisions, Verona, New Jersey 07044, USA. njhd@verizon.net
Sherman
Patricia A
PA
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011050:Policy Making; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012947:Social Work / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States