Abstract
The basic plan to promote Cancer Control Programs was approved in 2007 and many hospitals intend to start up a palliative care team (PCT). The PCT's roles are to provide symptom relief to cancer patients, and help them accept their medical conditions. An anesthesiologist has an important role in the PCT besides pain control. We describe problems with the PCT and local palliative network at Kitami Red Cross Hospital. As for the present conditions, the following three points became clear 1) pain clinic requests increased instead of decreased, 2) withdrawal of the psychiatrists who constituted PCT for differences in opinion, 3) the local palliative network has a deficiency of medical resources. We think that the current situation is in a period of reconsideration regarding the relationship of the anesthesiologist and PCT.
