More than 90% of Canadians will die of a protracted life-threatening illness such as cancer and less than 10% of will die of a sudden event such as a myocardial infarction or an accident.
A large proportion of people will die suffering from unrelieved pain, uncontrolled physical symptoms, and unresolved psychological and spiritual problems.
Studies such as the large SUPPORT trial have shown that 50% of patients still die in pain and 33% of these people experienced severe pain in the last days of their lives. Other symptoms such as fatigue occur in 58%, generalized weakness in 43%, confusion in 28-39%, anxiety in 21%, dyspnea in 20-40%, sleepiness 24-57% nausea in 12-71%. UHN e-Journals
Each death potentially affects the well being of an average of five other people.
It is estimated that only 5-10% of dying Canadians receive integrated and interdisciplinary palliative care. Canadian Senate Report
The standard of palliative care received by patients varies widely across the country.
The provision of palliative care, and relief of suffering is ethically imperative.
Every patient has the right to appropriate palliative care.
Every health care provider has an obligation to provide quality end-of-life care.