RT Book, Section A1 Rabow, Michael W. A1 Pantilat, Steven Z. A1 Shah, Ann Cai A1 Poree, Lawrence A1 Steiger, Scott A2 Papadakis, Maxine A. A2 McPhee, Stephen J. A2 Rabow, Michael W. SR Print(0) ID 1175791409 T1 Care of Patients at the End of Life T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2021 YR 2021 FD 2021 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781260469868 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1175791409 RD 2023/02/02 AB In the United States, more than 2.8 million people die each year. Approximately 56 million people die each year worldwide. Caring for patients at the end of life is an important responsibility and a rewarding opportunity for clinicians. From the medical perspective, the end of life may be defined as that time when death—whether due to terminal illness or acute or chronic illness—is expected within hours to months and can no longer be reasonably forestalled by medical intervention. Palliative care at the end of life focuses on relieving distressing symptoms and promoting quality of life (as in all other stages of illness). For patients at the end of life, palliative care may become the sole focus of care.