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A Poor Prognosis: Guide or Misleading?

Nursing home and Geriatric centre Antonius Binnenweg

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: wijnia-vantriest{at}filternet.nl.

	Abstract

Patients admitted to a palliative care unit have a limited life expectancy. Sometimes, however, the accuracy of the prognosis is compromised by atypical progress of a disease or incorrect assumptions. If a predicted short life expectancy proves to be longer, the increased need of care may result in chronic admission and in a significantly reduced quality of life. A given poor prognosis may be mistakenly adhered to and might lead to insufficient diagnostic procedures or treatment. However, palliative care requires a patient-oriented and active approach. To be aware of possible incomplete diagnostics is an important step in preventing adverse consequences of a wrong prognosis.

First published on December 26, 2007, doi:10.1177/1049909107307379

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® 2008;25:5.

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 1, 2008


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