Contribution to Palliative Care for Cancer Patients as Anesthesiologists

Abstract

  Recently, as the Japanese have become increasingly aware of the importance of palliative care for cancer patients, a large number of medical students and residents have become interested in palliative care. The easiest way to master palliative care is to be an anesthesiologist. Because anesthesiologists have various pain relief methods and sedation techniques by skillful use of anesthetic agents, such skills play an effective role in palliative care directly. On the other hand, the psychological and physical stress on doctors who take on palliative care can cause burnout, so preventive measures must be set up. If anesthesiologists doing palliative care almost develop burnout, they can temporarily work in other fields to relieve stress. Moreover, all the members of a palliative care team have to look for ways to prevent burnout.