Cuidados paliativos em população reclusa em Portugal

Abstract

In 2007, the World Health Organization defined palliative care as a comprehensive medical approach aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and their families facing severe, incurable or terminal illness. The present study aims to characterize the provision of palliative care to the prison population in Portugal, based on a case study. From the analysis of documents and interviews to three technicians and one volunteer, the statistics, the legal framework and the procedures of palliative care for prisoners, as well as the role of the family are analyzed. Data were analyzed through a deductive content analysis process. The main outcomes reveal that there is a legal framework for the care of prisoners with severe illness or the need for palliative care, but that the process is not always implemented and that there are still many obstacles and constraints in our Health and Prison systems in responding to the needs of patients with incurable or terminal illness and their families.

Date of Award	18 Jul 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Elisa Veiga (Supervisor) & Raquel Matos (Co-Supervisor)