毛思玉/譯

Palliative care is often misunderstood—even by members of the medical community. Unfortunately， palliative care myths and misconceptions can prevent patients and families from accessing palliative care and its many benefits.

姑息關(guān)懷常常為大眾，甚至醫(yī)學(xué)人士所誤解。不幸的是，相關(guān)迷思與誤解會讓患者和家屬無緣接觸到姑息關(guān)懷，也無法獲得由其帶來的諸多好處。

For instance， did you know the following facts about palliative care？

比如，你了解以下關(guān)于姑息關(guān)懷的事實嗎？

· Patients can receive palliative care at any point during serious illness—not just at the end of life.

· 患者可在重大疾病的任何階段接受姑息關(guān)懷，而非僅可在臨終這一個階段。

· Palliative care is not just physical care. It also includes emotional and spiritual support， among other services.

· 姑息關(guān)懷不僅提供身體護(hù)理，還可以提供情感和精神支持等服務(wù)。

· Palliative care is provided by experts to improve patients quality of life， enabling them to make the most of each moment.

· 姑息關(guān)懷由專業(yè)人士提供，以提高患者生活質(zhì)量為目的，使患者能夠充分利用生命的每一刻。

If you responded “no，” dont worry！ Read on to learn more truths about palliative care—and bust the common myths surrounding it.

如果你不知道上述事實，沒關(guān)系！這篇文章將帶你了解更多關(guān)于姑息關(guān)懷的真相，為你打破與之相關(guān)的常見迷思。

Misconception： Palliative care is only for people who are dying.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷只適用于生命垂危的患者。

Patients can receive palliative care at any stage of a serious illness. The goal of palliative care is to provide an extra layer of support and increase patients comfort by addressing their physical， social， emotional， and spiritual needs. Palliative care should therefore start early in the course of illness—to reduce symptoms and suffering from the beginning， and thereby enable the best possible quality of life for the longest amount of time.

患者可在重大疾病的任何階段接受姑息關(guān)懷。姑息關(guān)懷旨在提供額外的支持，通過滿足患者身體上、社交上、情感上和精神上的需求，提升患者的舒適感。因此，姑息關(guān)懷應(yīng)始于病程早期——從一開始就減輕癥狀與痛苦，進(jìn)而在最長的時間內(nèi)盡可能地提高患者的生活質(zhì)量。

In other words—palliative care is to keep living， for as long and as well as possible.

換句話說，姑息關(guān)懷就是要讓患者活得盡可能久，也盡可能舒適。

Misconception： Palliative care is another name for hospice care.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷是臨終關(guān)懷的另一種說法。

Hospice care is simply a form of palliative care thats given near the end of life， when the patient is expected to have six months or less to live. However， not all palliative care is hospice care. Palliative care can be given to patients who still have many years to live， including those who may recover from their illness.

臨終關(guān)懷只是姑息關(guān)懷的一種形式，針對的是預(yù)期壽命不超過六個月的終末期患者。然而，并不是所有的姑息關(guān)懷都是臨終關(guān)懷。姑息關(guān)懷也適用于預(yù)期壽命很長的患者，其中包括可能從疾病中康復(fù)的患者。

Misconception： Palliative care is just for people with terminal cancer.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷只適用于癌癥晚期患者。

Palliative care can help people with virtually any serious condition—at any stage of illness—including terminal cancer. For example， palliative care is for people with kidney， liver， lung and heart disease， diabetes， dementia， multiple sclerosis， Parkinsons disease， and rheumatoid arthritis， among many others. People of any age—including children—can receive palliative care.

姑息關(guān)懷幾乎可以幫助患有任何重大疾病的人，并且可在重大疾病的任何階段提供幫助，包括癌癥晚期。例如，姑息關(guān)懷適用于患有腎臟、肝臟、肺部和心臟疾病的人，以及患有糖尿病、失智癥、多發(fā)性硬化癥、帕金森病和類風(fēng)濕性關(guān)節(jié)炎等疾病的人。任何年齡的人，包括兒童，都可以接受姑息關(guān)懷。

Misconception： Palliative care makes the person die sooner.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷會加速患者的死亡。

Palliative care does not hasten death. It helps the patient stay as comfortable as possible， from the start of a serious condition until the end of life. In fact， people who receive palliative care often live longer than those with the same advanced illness who do not receive palliative care， studies show.

姑息關(guān)懷不會加速生命的結(jié)束，而是會幫助患者盡可能地保持舒適，從出現(xiàn)重癥開始直到生命結(jié)束。實際上，研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，患有同種晚期疾病的患者，接受姑息關(guān)懷的患者比沒有接受姑息關(guān)懷的患者壽命長。

Misconception： Doctors and nurses are not experts in the field.

誤解：醫(yī)生和護(hù)士不是姑息關(guān)懷領(lǐng)域的專家。

Palliative care is a growing field. Physicians can become board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine. Nurse practitioners can earn ACHPN credentials and become an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. Nurses can receive CHPN credentials and become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

姑息關(guān)懷是一個不斷發(fā)展的領(lǐng)域。醫(yī)生可以獲得臨終關(guān)懷和姑息醫(yī)學(xué)的職業(yè)認(rèn)證。執(zhí)業(yè)護(hù)師可以獲得ACHPN證書，成為高級臨終關(guān)懷和姑息關(guān)懷護(hù)士。護(hù)士可以獲得CHPN證書，成為臨終關(guān)懷和姑息關(guān)懷護(hù)士。

Misconception： Palliative care is only available in hospitals.

誤解：只能在醫(yī)院接受姑息關(guān)懷。

Palliative care can be given anywhere the patient lives： at home， in a long-term care facility， in a hospice center， in the hospital， or in an office setting.

姑息關(guān)懷可在患者居住的任何地方進(jìn)行，包括家里、長期護(hù)理機(jī)構(gòu)、臨終關(guān)懷中心、醫(yī)院，甚至可在辦公場所進(jìn)行。

Misconception： Palliative care means my doctor has given up hope for me.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷意味著醫(yī)生對我已經(jīng)不抱希望了。

Palliative care is an extra layer of support to help you maintain quality of life， navigate the healthcare system， and explore treatment options. Its a type of care that helps provide the best possible quality of life throughout the course of your illness. And even in situations where there may no longer be hope for a cure， palliative care helps shift the focus to new goals—centered on living each moment as fully as possible.

姑息關(guān)懷是一種額外的支持，可以幫助患者保持生活質(zhì)量、尋得所需醫(yī)療資源、探索治療方案。這種護(hù)理貫穿整個病程，為患者提供盡可能高質(zhì)量的生活。即使在治愈希望渺茫的情況下，姑息關(guān)懷也有助于將患者的注意力轉(zhuǎn)向諸多新目標(biāo)——以盡可能充分地享受每一秒為核心。

Misconception： Palliative care is only for pain.

誤解：姑息關(guān)懷只能緩和疼痛。

Pain from serious illness is a common reason to seek palliative care. But， palliative care also treats many other symptoms and challenges caused by advanced illness. These can include nausea， vomiting， shortness of breath， anxiety， depression， restlessness， spirit-ual distress， constipation， diarrhea， loss of appetite， swelling， itching， insomnia， and other issues that may affect the patients and familys quality of life.

重大疾病引發(fā)的疼痛是患者尋求姑息關(guān)懷的常見原因。但是，姑息關(guān)懷也可用于治療晚期疾病引起的許多其他癥狀和問題，包括惡心、嘔吐、氣短、焦慮、抑郁、躁動、精神困擾、便秘、腹瀉、食欲不振、浮腫、瘙癢、失眠，以及其他可能影響患者和家屬生活質(zhì)量的問題。

Misconception： Once I start on palliative care， I will stop seeing my other doctors.

誤解：一旦我開始接受姑息關(guān)懷，我就不再看其他醫(yī)生了。

Palliative care providers work with your other health care providers to help manage your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. They do not replace your other providers. The palliative care team will collaborate with your primary-care team or specialists to create a treatment plan.

提供姑息關(guān)懷的人員會與其他為患者提供醫(yī)療服務(wù)的人員合作，共同幫助患者控制癥狀，提高生活質(zhì)量。他們不會取代患者的其他醫(yī)生。姑息關(guān)懷團(tuán)隊將與患者的初級醫(yī)療團(tuán)隊或?qū)？漆t(yī)生合作制訂治療計劃。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎?wù)撸粏挝唬罕本├砉ご髮W(xué)）