title: The role of palliative care at the end of life.
abstract: The goal of palliative care is to relieve the suffering of patients and their families by the comprehensive assessment and treatment of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual symptoms experienced by patients. As death approaches, a patient's symptoms may require more aggressive palliation. As comfort measures intensify, so should the support provided to the dying patient's family. After the patient's death, palliative care focuses primarily on bereavement and support of the family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.forename: Hillary H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Luminais
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Blais