title: II Forum of the "End of Life Study Group of the Southern Cone of America": palliative care definitions, recommendations and integrated actions for intensive care and pediatric intensive care units.
abstract: Palliative care is aimed to improve the quality of life of both patients and their family members during the course of life-threatening diseases through the prevention, early identification and treatment of the symptoms of physical, psychological, spiritual and social suffering. Palliative care should be provided to every critically ill patient; this requirement renders the training of intensive care practitioners and education initiatives fundamental. Continuing the Technical Council on End of Life and Palliative Care of the Brazilian Association of Intensive Medicine activities and considering previously established concepts, the II Forum of the End of Life Study Group of the Southern Cone of America was conducted in October 2010. The forum aimed to develop palliative care recommendations for critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rachel Duarte
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Uruguaia de Medicina Intensiva, Uruguai.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deicas
authors.affiliation: Sociedade Argentina de Terapia Intensiva, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniel Neves
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lara Patrícia
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kretzer
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lago
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pusch
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Othero
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Newton Brandão da
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azeredo
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Brasil.
authors.forename: Raphaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ropelato