A member asked:

Please explain if it is true that hospice patients don't get any treatment?

4 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. Bernard Seif answered

Specializes in Clinical Psychology

Hospice help: Hospice patients get palliative treatment, i.e., they are made as comfortable as possible. The do not receive the standard cancer treatments because the have been exhausted or deemed ineffective at a point in time. Hospice is a blessing to many. I treat a number of hospice workers and volunteers and admire them greatly. The very best to you.

Answered 2/25/2014

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Dr. Ilana Newman answered

Specializes in Palliative Care

Comfort care: Hospice has a different treatment philosophy. Hospice treatments are provided for comfort care, instead of trying to cure an advanced disease. Patients on hospice are given antibiotics if they develop an infection or transfusions if they have severe symptoms from anemia.

Answered 8/8/2014

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End of life care.: Hospice is meant for those who seemingly at the end of life, although that end can still be many months away. The emphasis of hospice care is not trying to save the life, but to give comfort to the individual as their death approaches. It's not "no treatment", it's comfort care.

Answered 12/2/2014

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Please explain what does hospice care do for cancer patients?

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