Palliative and End-of-Life Care in the Intensive Care Unit

Palliative medicine is the specialty that focuses on improving the quality of life for patients and families when the patients have serious or advanced medical conditions. The approach to care is patient centered and goal oriented. It can be performed at any stage of illness with or without a palliative medicine consultative service. All clinicians, including intensive care unit (ICU) physicians, who care for patients with serious or advanced illnesses should be able to provide adequate palliative care.