When we go to see a doctor, we often expect he or she can cure the diseases and save our lives. But, for terminally-ill patients, there are no medications that can heal or save them from dying. 

Instead of using treatment to prolong one’s life with incurable diseases, palliative care emphasizes more on providing different areas of support, for the patients’ and families’ quality of life, such as psychological and social support as they approach the end stages.

Yet, there are still some Hong Kongers holding a misunderstanding on palliative care such as giving up life and waiting to die or even never heard about it before. 

So in this article, we have invited Dr Chan Lut-ming, an internist with experience in practicing palliative care at a local hospital to share his experiences of working in palliative care with some of his unforgettable cases, obstacles to promoting the service and his views on the death of patients. 

Read the story and understand more about palliative care through a doctor’s eyes!