Shared Decision-Making with Palliative Care Specialist

Shared decision-making (SDM) represents a central framework for achieving person-centered, value-concordant care in palliative and end-of-life settings. This review synthesizes current SDM concepts, practical models, and future directions relevant to palliative care specialists. Foundational models, such as the three-talk framework and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, emphasize iterative dialogue, informed preferences, and relational trust. In clinical practice, SDM is integrated with adaptive interdisciplinary approaches that align immediate treatment choices with long-term goals, particularly when combined with advance care planning. Examples such as SDM involving oncologists and palliative care specialists, as well as telehealth-based family conferences, illustrate measurable benefits in documentation, communication, and palliative engagement. Future priorities include addressing emotional distress, improving health literacy, and embracing relational autonomy in diverse cultural contexts. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, large language models, and immersive virtual reality may offer promising tools for visualizing prognostic trajectories, supporting reflection, and enhancing empathy. Ultimately, SDM in palliative care transforms decision-making from a technical act into a moral and relational process, uniting evidence, compassion, and shared meaning to ensure that every medical choice honors the patient's dignity and values.