What Does a Palliative Doctor Do?

Common Concerns

Perhaps you are worried that medications for pain or symptom relief can hurt you or cause addiction. It may put your mind at ease to know the following:

• Addiction to medication prescribed for pain relief is extremely rare. Palliative doctors are experts in preventing problems and side effects of strong pain medications. They also often can help patients with addictions get pain relief.
• Receiving pain and symptom relief does not mean you are “giving up.” Our goal is to make you comfortable and help you achieve the best possible quality of life. You can be treated for pain and other symptoms while you are undergoing treatments that may cure or reverse the effects of the illness. In fact, when pain and other symptoms are eased, you are better able to tolerate other treatments, as well as to recover from them.
• Appropriately prescribed medicine will not hasten death. Your palliative specialist has the expertise to devise a medication plan that makes you comfortable, and is safe.