The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances in hospice and palliative care

The abstract of this discussion paper reads: "The healthcare system and services can improve the end-of-life experience by not merely medicating the dying process—but by humanizing it and understanding it as part of the life cycle. Although improvements have been achieved in the control of pain and distressing symptoms related to serious diseases, there is still much to be developed, especially in the care of the psychological and spiritual dimensions not only of patients in hospice and palliative care but also of their caregivers. In the context of death, attention to suffering in all of its presentations is an inevitable aspect of holistic care. Thus, the development of meaning-creating psychotherapies, psychospiritual patient care, and further research findings in psychedelic therapies may contribute to more compassionate and mindful care in hospice and palliative care settings."

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