Assessment of Legal Needs for Patients and Palliative Care Providers: A Case Study in Uganda

This report focuses on the Ugandan context and explains how palliative care practice in Low Income Countries (LIC) faces many challenges and barriers. First, patients are diagnosed late and there are fewer supportive mechanisms, especially in rural areas. Care for orphans appears to pose a challenge in social and financial terms. Secondly, clinical staff (doctors and nurses) may not have the necessary training to understand or provide palliative care and end up ‘giving up’ on the patient. In addition, lack of communication skills among clinicians, institutional standards and access to palliative care centres are important barriers especially in LIC (Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, 2009). Added to this are issues around legal and human rights aspects of palliative care, which are poorly understood by both patients and care providers.

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Uploaded on: Jun 16, 2015
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2015
Issues: Community Paralegals, Family, Generalist Legal Services, Health Tool Type: Manuals & Guides Method: Research Languages: English Regions: > Global, Sub-Saharan Africa