Respecting frailty
- Correspondence to Dr Laurie H Mallery, Head, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 5955 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Ste. 2650, Halifax, NS B3H 2E1, Canada; laurie.mallery{at}cdha.nshealth.ca
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Contributors The PATH (Palliative and Therapeutic Harmonization) programme and its foundation principles are a joint effort of both authors.
- Received 8 September 2010
- Revised 15 October 2010
- Accepted 31 October 2010
- Published Online First 21 November 2010
Abstract
While the medical treatment of older individuals often results in desirable outcomes, indiscriminate use of aggressive treatment at the end-of-life can cause paradoxical harm and suffering. Comprehensive assessment and communication can help foster decisions that consider the effect of frailty on health outcomes.
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
