Paying attention to cultural context matters in advance care planning and palliative care

Abstract

Commentary on: Lin CP, Evans CJ, Koffman J, et al . What influences patients' decisions regarding palliative care in advance care planning discussions? Perspectives from a qualitative study conducted with advanced cancer patients, families and healthcare professionals. Palliat Med 2019; Epub ahead of print Aug 1. doi:10.1177/0269216319866641. Advance care planning is largely derived from Western countries,1 with a reliance on Western concepts of autonomy and decision making.2 Much advance care planning research is from the USA, UK and Europe,3 despite significant international cultural differences in the concept of autonomy and decision making.4 5 …