Perspective Examines Hispanics' Barriers To Quality End-of-Life Care

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 12 Mar 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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"Palliative Care for Latino Patients and Their Families," Journal of the American Medical Association: The perspective looks at the communication and cultural barriers Hispanics face when seeking end-of-life care in the U.S. According to the perspective, such barriers include language and literacy; geographic, political and economic issues that often separate patients from their families; uninsurance; concerns about legal status and discrimination; and cultural and religious differences. The perspective recommends the use of professional interpreters during discussions of the patient's care and also offers suggestions for clinicians working with interpreters (Smith et al., JAMA, 3/11).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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