title: Surgical palliative care in Haiti.
abstract: Palliative care in itself has many challenges; these challenges are compounded exponentially when placed in the setting of a mass casualty event, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Haiti itself was an austere environment with very little infrastructure before the disaster. US surgeons, intensivists, and nurses worked hand in hand with other international providers and Haitian volunteers to provide the best care for the many. Improvisation and teamwork as well as respect for the Haitian caregivers were crucial to their successes. Sisyphean trials lie ahead. Haiti and its people must not be forgotten.
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida at Shands Jacksonville, 32209, USA. joan.huffman@jax.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Joan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huffman
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D055866:Earthquakes; D006205:Haiti; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative