Literature Review

What my sister Ellen taught me about dignity and the importance of being seen: A powerful reflection on person-centered care, bias, and the true meaning of human dignity in medicine Good Men Project; by Harvey Max Chochinov; 2/23/26 Several years before her death at the age of 55 years due to complications of cerebral palsy, my sister Ellen was again in hospital, this time in intensive care and on the brink of respiratory collapse.  ... I’ve spent my entire career as a psychiatrist working in palliative care. This has included leading a large program of research, examining most aspects of end-of-life experience for patients nearing death. Recently I have recast the Golden Rule for healthcare professionals, reminding them they must aspire to a higher standard. I have coined this The Platinum Rule: do unto others as they would want done unto themselves. This means that healthcare professionals can’t presume to know what is in the patient’s best interest based on what they themselves would want in those circumstances; in other words, they need to take the time to consider the patient’s goals, hopes and wishes.

Hospice use rising for seniors following ICU stays U.S. News & World Report; by Deanna Neff, HealthDay News; 2/25/26For many older Americans, the intensive care unit (ICU) is a place of aggressive, life-saving intervention. However, a new national study reveals that more seniors are choosing a different path — transitioning from the high-tech world of the ICU to the comfort-focused environment of hospice. ... Between 2011 and 2023, the number of Medicare beneficiaries discharged to hospice after an ICU stay increased significantly, researchers from Boston University’s School of Medicine found. This shift occurred even as overall death rates remained steady, suggesting that the change in setting wasn’t tied to more people dying, but rather about how and where people spent their final days.Editor's Note: We posted a similar article on 2/23/26. We post this article for your awareness and use, due to its high profile in U.S. News & World Report.

Palliative care and quality outcomes in patients with brain metastases and poor prognosis: A multi-institutional analysis JCO Oncology Practice - An American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal; by Rohit Singh, MD, Camilo E. Fadul, MD, Emily Kopp, MS, Guneet Sarai, MD, Roger Anderson, PhD, Ryan F. Amidon, MD, Samantha Schuetz, MD, Amy Chang, MD, Ausia N. Iqbal, MD, Joseph A. Bovi, MD, and Alissa A. Thomas, MD; 2/23/26 Purpose: To analyze the patterns of palliative care (PC) consultation for patients with brain metastases (BMETs) and its association with treatment, overall survival (OS), and quality metrics (eg, advance directives [ADs], hospice enrollment). Conclusion: The involvement of PC services correlated with higher completion rates of ADs and increased hospice utilization, without compromising survival or significantly altering other treatment options. There is an unmet need for PC among patients with BMETs with poor prognosis.

A nationwide retrospective analysis of trends in palliative care consultation and do-not-resuscitate status in heart failure hospitalizations Palliative Medicine; by Nikitha Murthy, Ramy Sedhom, Purvi Parwani, Megan Pelter, Liset Stoletniy, Tanya Doctorian, Diane Tran, Antoine Sakr, Dmitry Abramov; 2/21/26 Conclusions: While palliative care and do-not-resuscitate use among heart failure hospitalizations have increased, they remain low. Over half of those who die during a heart failure admission do not receive palliative care consultation, underscoring missed opportunities to optimize end-of-life care. 

Hospice use after ICU admission increased across the US from 2011–2023 Medical Xpress; by Boston University School of Medicine, edited by Gaby Clark; 2/19/26 ... In a new study from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, researchers have found that more older adults in the U.S. are being discharged to hospice after an ICU stay than in the past, and this increase happened even as overall short-term death rates stayed stable. This research is the first to quantify hospice use after ICU stays on a national scale, and suggests a real shift in how end-of-life care is delivered to the seriously ill. These findings appear online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Cindy Mensik on hospice care: When to shift focus? Investors Hangout; by Lucas Young; 2/17/26 Families in Texas City, TX, are facing a critical decision as loved ones enter the later stages of life. A recent article featuring insights from hospice care expert Cindy Mensik outlines when it’s time to pivot from aggressive treatment methods to hospice care. The reality is stark: this shift isn’t about surrendering; it’s about prioritizing comfort and quality of life during challenging times.

Comparison of patients seen by an embedded social worker and nurse practitioner palliative care model in hospital medicine versus referral-based specialty palliative care and their acute care utilization outcomes Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Laura P Gelfman, Li Zeng, Keisha Bergland, Elizabeth Rizzo, Cheyenne Higgins, Claire Doucette, Krishna Chokshi, Emily Chai; 2/17/26 Background: Hospitalized patients with serious illness often face delayed or limited access to palliative care. Embedded hospital primary palliative care (HPPC), led by social workers and nurse practitioners, may deliver more timely, needs-based support compared with referral-based specialty palliative care (SPC). Conclusions: An embedded SW/NP-led palliative care model in hospital medicine improves access, reduces acute care use, and is sustainable over time. This approach supports timely, culturally sensitive, needs-based palliative care and may be scalable for hospital-based delivery.

Prison teaches Rock Island man how to care for others wn.com, The Daily Nonpariel; by Tom Loewy; 2/15/26 Finis Leonard has helped 13 men die. That's not why the 48-year-old Rock Island native has been in Illinois prisons since 2007. Handed concurrent sentences of 30 years for being an armed habitual criminal and 10 years for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, Leonard made a decision in 2016 that he says changed his life. He decided to study palliative care and started a hospice care program at Danville Correctional Center. Leonard said working with dying men and helping others learn palliative care has made him a better person. He has petitioned Rock Island County State's Attorney Dora Villarreal for early release from his prison sentence, which is expected to last another six years. [Full article is behind a paywall.]

Bono residents donate blood in honor of boy battling cancer KAIT-8 News, Bono, AR; by Alejandra Hernandez; 2/16/26 A community blood drive honored 7-year-old Jacob Garland, who is battling cancer and currently in hospice care. ... Doctors told the family they had done everything possible, but the cancer was too aggressive. Jacob is now in hospice care at home. ... While hospitalized, Jacob received nearly one blood transfusion per week. ... Several family members would travel to Memphis to donate blood, even though not all of the blood would go to Jacob directly—it was still helping a patient who needed it. ... Garland’s aunt, Sharon Hill, approached the family about hosting a blood drive, and they agreed. “There’s a lot of people out there that need life-saving blood, so if it helps other families,” Garland said. “Se’re happy to be here and support that need.”

Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers [podcast] MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; podcast by KevinMD; 2/14/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “Why every physician needs a sabbatical (and how to take one).” Christie reveals the harsh reality that while sabbaticals exist on paper, unwritten rules often prevent doctors from accessing this critical recovery tool until it is too late. She shares her personal journey of taking an unsanctioned, unpaid break to combat burnout and how that decision allowed her to return to medicine with renewed purpose. 

"Peaceful death is our goal": Music therapy and emotional catharsis with hospice therapist Yuzuko Degrottole Atwood Magazine; by Bella Bromberg; 2/4/26 ... Strapped to her back: A black guitar bag. In a satchel draped over her arm: An iPad containing lyrics to hundreds of songs. Yuzuko DeGrottole, originally from Japan, came to the U.S. in 2003 to study music therapy and earned a master’s degree at New York University. For over 15 years, she has worked as a creative arts therapist, performing primarily for hospice patients, encouraging them to sing along.

Emotional Intelligence mediates empathy and caring ability among oncology nurses Oncology Nurse Advisor; by Jessica Nye, PhD; 2/10/26 A cross-sectional study found that oncology nurses had a moderate level of caring ability and that emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between empathy and caring ability. The study findings were published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. In oncology, nurses need to provide humanistic care in addition to basic nursing. This study sought to test whether emotional intelligence mediated the association between empathy and humanistic caring ability.

Experiencing grief this Valentine's Day? VITAS® Healthcare launches Valentine Helpline in Florida PR Newswire, Miramar, FL; by VITAS Healthcare; 2/10/26 As Valentine's Day approaches, a time often associated with love and connection, many people experience heightened feelings of grief, loneliness or emotional strain after the loss of a loved one or while anticipating an impending loss. To support those navigating these complex emotions, VITAS Healthcare will host a Valentine Helpline on Saturday, Feb. 14, offering free, confidential grief support to Florida residents.