Pain and symptom management clinical, policy, and political perspectives.
During the last decade, the prevalence of cancer pain and the reality of undertreatment have been well documented in both adults and children. There has been a proliferation of educational and regulatory activity setting an expectation that management of pain is a priority. At the same time, pain has come to the attention of the media, advocacy groups, industry, legislators, regulators and litigators creating an environment where this rich and multidimensional aspect of oncology care has moved beyond a clinical focus and opening up a range of opportunities for oncology professionals to participate as experts and leaders. The ethical underpinnings of the mandate to treat pain and attend to suffering compels psychosocial clinicians to advocate for the care of patients and consider participating in an informed way in the policy, legislative and political issues that flourish around the treatment of pain.
Altilio
Terry
T
Department of Pain Medicine & Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. taltilio@chpnet.org
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000941:ethics; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011057:Politics; D012947:Social Work / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid