title: Uncertain cancer diagnosis: the expanded role of the palliative care consultant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As attending physicians in acute care hospitals consult palliative care services earlier for patients with a life-threatening illness, the role of the palliative care consultant (PCC) may expand, especially when there is diagnostic uncertainty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expanding role of the PCC and the complexities associated with earlier referral are illustrated by describing the case of a patient with an uncertain diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic uncertainty that accompanies earlier palliative care consultation may hamper the PCC's ability to establish goals of care and the appropriateness of hospice palliative care unit admission. Attempts at resolving this diagnostic uncertainty may lead to an expanded role for the PCC, which ideally will occur in collaboration with the primary care team.
authors.affiliation: Division of Palliative Care Medicine, University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. gary.wolch@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Wolch
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fainsinger
authors.forename: Clarence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Brinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balachandra
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D003253:Consultants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D024382:Professional Role; D035501:Uncertainty