Current status of palliative care in Israel: a pediatric oncologist's perspective

Pediatric cancer palliative care is characterized by diversity of care delivery models; effect of cancer on the family as the central focus of care and consideration of culture, spirituality, communication, and ethical standards. In Israel, children who are in palliative care are treated by the staff of the centers and about 70 to 80 % of the children are dying in the pediatric Hematology Oncology departments and units. Special efforts are also made in the pediatric departments in order to better treat adolescents in terminal phases. Palliative care education program in Israel was started several years ago together with adult palliative care specialists, the Israeli pediatric oncologists still witness many barriers for treatment amongst parents as well as in medical pediatric teams especially in pain management. During the last years, the Israeli pediatric palliative care teams improved the management of all symptoms in a dying child with special attention to existential, emotional and social demands of the child and the whole family. Education of the medical and nursing team is imperative, training in pharmacology and metabolism of antalgic drugs is also mandatory in order to better manage symptom control of the children at the end of life.