[Palliative care : not wait for the end of life].

Abstract

Patients with serious illnesses wish to maintain their autonomy and decide the course of their end of life. The role of healthcare professionals is to assess the patient's understanding of their illness, help them become aware of the progression of their condition, and adapt these conversations according to the patient's emotional state, while providing regular spaces for discussion. Some patients continue to have expectations that may seem unrealistic despite a limited prognosis. The goal is to align treatments with the patient's ' objectives and values, while guiding them toward existential maturation, which represents the necessary process of accepting one's own mortality as a non-traumatic event. This process is built through repeated interactions with the patient, which is why it is crucial to begin these discussions early.