The Great Divide: The Schism Between Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care

by Rebecca Gagne Henderson PhD APRN ACHPN The Original Schism In 1054 AD a Roman Catholic Cardinal was sent to the Metropolitan of the Eastern Orthodox Church and excommunicated the entire Eastern church. The Eastern Bishop declared anathema on the Roman Catholic church. Oh, the Irony amongst these fine men who carried the mantle of the original … Continue reading The Great Divide: The Schism Between Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care

Overtreatment, the River Styx and End-of-Life Conversations 

by Rebecca Gagne-Henderson PhD, APRN, ACHPN We find ourselves in an era of frequent and normalized overtreatment of the very old and very ill. This overtreatment contributes to frailty and debility, which leads to the institutionalization of those unfortunates to lay and wait for death to come. Overtreatment includes interventions that have little to no … Continue reading Overtreatment, the River Styx and End-of-Life Conversations