title: End-of-life care: an interdisciplinary perspective.
abstract: The Institute of Medicine has described the "death-denying character of American society'' and surely, there is an opportunity to change this character. Despite our understandable concern with costs, end-of-life care options must be variously considered from economic, ethical, and legislative perspectives. We consider these multiple perspectives of end-of-life care in an attempt to inform current thinking on the part of legislators, policy makers, providers, patients, families/ caregivers, and insurers on the issue of end-of-life care. Society must be educated to understand that death can be peaceful and that end-of-life planning and care is an integral part of society's continuum of care. Enabling affordability, expanding availability, and ensuring access are the only ways of realizing that outcome.
authors.affiliation: Master of Public Health Program, School of Public Health, New York Medical College, Valhalla. Deborah_Viola@nymc.edu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Leven
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: LePere
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D003657:Decision Making; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology