Palliative and End of Life Care for Prisoners Suffering from Cancer

Introduction: The world's prison population is aging and growing. Moreover, studies suggest that incarcerated patients likely have a higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population. The end of life in prison is a new challenge, and providing palliative care to this population is a critical issue Palliative care approaches place an emphasis on quality of life and whole person care by addressing physical, psychosocial, family, and spiritual concerns. Inmates who require palliative care want to feel secure, cared for, and recognized. The dichotomy between care and incarceration is obvious palliative care delivery is frequently made more difficult by the secure setting and wider justice system Furthermore, restricted access to palliative care in prison settings can make inmates feel helpless and alone.Materials and Methods: A narrative review of literature was conducted using research databases.Results: Studies indicate that inmates have unique end of life experiences For instance, they fear death more than people in the community Conditions such as bad physical health or psychological state are aggravated by the stay in prison and increase the fear of death Many inmates also consider death a stigma for them and their families ۳ Recent studies have found that effective palliative care strategies often involve the utilization of peer volunteers, multidisciplinary teams, staff development, and collaborations with local hospices. However, there are a number of obstacles, including organizational, personnel, and public apathy regarding terminally ill inmates, distrust among staff and inmates, security concerns, and worry over prisoners' possible abuse of pain medication.Conclusions: Herein, the methods and key findings of the literature on palliative and end of life care in prison are reviewed and critically evaluated A new generation of research, practice, policy, and advocacy projects that focus on the terminally ill and dying in prison, their relatives, and communities, can be developed or improved utilizing this information.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، Prisoners ، End of Life Care ، Palliative care