[Managing End-of-Life Care in ALS and Its Associated Issue]

The neurological disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) requires pain palliation during end-of-life stages. From the view point of a home-care doctor who assists patients with their final wishes to die at home, I summarize the issues involving the section of medical treatments, the extent and frequency of end-of-life pain, the methodology of pain palliation, and the facts of end-of-life care at home. I also present several clinical cases of end-of-life home care and discuss its demand and problems.