End-of-life care for hematological malignancies: the 'technological imperative' and palliative care.

Recent research indicates that hospice/palliative care practices have not yet been integrated into the care of patients with hematological malignancies. As research in relation to palliative care and hematological malignancies is in its infancy, many of the end-of-life care practices with these diagnostic groups are based on unexamined ideas. The findings presented in this article, which are taken from recent post-doctoral research on hematological malignancies and palliative care, make a contribution to documenting information on what is happening to patients and their families in this area. In particular, the findings provide insights on issues associated with the patient and carer awareness that the patient is dying, understanding of prognosis, and the desire to die at home. Such insights are placed in the context of descriptions of the patients' experience with treatment during the terminal stage.