Choosing wisely at the end of life. Recommendations of the German Society for PalliativeMedicine (DGP)

Abstract

In addition to an overuse of unnecessary or no longer indicated diagnostic or therapeutic procedures at the end of life in the sense of overtreatment, there is often also a lack of therapeutic awareness in terms of a healthcare deficit, for example concerning the recognition and treatment of symptoms and complex burden of the disease. Sticking closely to themethodology of the German S3 "PalliativeMedicine" guideline, the Choosing wisely recommendations of the German Society for PalliativeMedicine address various examples of over-and underuse of healthcare services and treatment at the end of life, and thus also mirror basic principles of palliative medical care.