Improving the Hospice and Palliative Care Experiences of LGBTQ Patients and Their Caregivers

Shail Maingi; Asa Radix; Carey Candrian; Gary L Stein; Cathy Berkman; Sean O'Mahony

doi:10.1016/j.pop.2021.02.012

Improving the Hospice and Palliative Care Experiences of LGBTQ Patients and Their Caregivers

Prim Care. 2021 Jun;48(2):339-349. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2021.02.012. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Authors

Shail Maingi¹, Asa Radix², Carey Candrian³, Gary L Stein⁴, Cathy Berkman⁵, Sean O'Mahony⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Oncology, St Peter's Health Partners Cancer Care, 315 South Manning Boulevard, Albany, NY 12208, USA. Electronic address: shailmaingi@yahoo.com.
² Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, NYU School of Medicine, 356 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA.
³ University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Electronic address: https://twitter.com/CandrianCarey.
⁴ Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, 2495 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033, USA.
⁵ Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, 113 West 60 Street, New York, NY 10023, USA.
⁶ Section of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 955, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

PMID: 33985709
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2021.02.012

Abstract

Primary care providers often express a desire to be more involved with their patients as they transition to hospice care. Given that these providers have a central role in the care of their patients, they have the potential to significantly improve the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer patients who face serious illnesses. This article discusses the barriers to quality hospice and palliative care experienced by many sexual and gender minorities, as well as specific ways in which primary care physicians can promote equitable end-of-life care.

Keywords: End-of-life care; Health disparities; Hospice; LGBT/LGBTQ; Palliative care; Sexual and gender minorities.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Caregivers
Female
Hospice Care*
Hospices*
Humans
Palliative Care
Sexual and Gender Minorities*