Legal Definitions - comfort care

Definition: Comfort care, also known as palliative care, is a type of medical care that focuses on reducing a patient's pain and keeping them comfortable. This type of care is not intended to cure the patient's illness, but rather to improve their quality of life, especially towards the end of their life. Palliative care can be given alongside treatment intended to cure the patient's serious illness(es). A team of different professionals, known as a palliative care team, provides medical, social, emotional, and practical support to the patient.

• A patient with advanced cancer may receive comfort care to manage their pain and other symptoms, such as nausea or fatigue.
• A patient with a terminal illness may receive comfort care to help them feel more comfortable and at ease during their final days.
• A patient with a chronic illness, such as heart failure or COPD, may receive comfort care to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

These examples illustrate how comfort care is focused on improving the patient's quality of life and managing their symptoms, rather than curing their illness. The goal is to help the patient feel more comfortable and at ease, especially towards the end of their life.