Support for Hospice Care

I would like to commend Pearl Jemison-Smith for her passionate description of hospice care for terminally ill patients (“Hospice Brings Dignity to Process of Dying,” Commentary, Dec. 1).

As a cancer-care specialist, many of my patients have benefited from the personalized care given by all members of the hospice team to control pain and other symptoms.

However, the comment I hear most often from patients and families receiving hospice care is, “Why didn’t I know about hospice earlier?” This causes me some concern.

While some patients are being served, many are not utilizing hospice services. During 1991 in the United States, more than 1.4 million patients qualified for Medicare-certified hospice services, yet only 200,000 patients were actually enrolled. In the greater Los Angeles area, only 8,000 of the 28,000 eligible patients received hospice care.

Referrals by physicians, patients and families are potentially difficult because they require understanding and acceptance of terminal illness.

I understand and sympathize, as I am often times placed in the position of having to discuss with patients and families end-of-life issues and terminal care.

I am convinced, however, that hospice care is essential to achieving the goals of most patients, which is a death free from pain and suffering.

The challenge to health-care professionals and the public now is to actively seek and support hospice services.

PAUL H. COLUZZI MD

Fountain Valley