The Rehabilitation Setting of Terminal Cancer Patients: Listening, Communication, and Trust

Given the particular nature of the oncological context, the relationship between the physical therapist and terminally ill patients may, at times, be very demanding from an ethical point of view. The approach taken to rehabilitation should be extremely flexible and adaptable to the rapid changes which the evolution of the disease imposes on the patient: moreover, through a multidisciplinary approach and with the co-operation of a team of other healthcare professionals, the physiotherapist can adequately support the patient and his family. Cancer patients in the advanced stages of the disease must confront the progressive nature of the condition and the consequent deterioration of physiological functions. It is because of these changes that the physical therapist is a crucial part of the palliative care process; however this role is not without its issues, for example, the different operating models and the effectiveness of each professional choice. This paper represents an attempt to analyze, especially from a bioethical point of view, the activities of the physiotherapist in the particular context of palliative care, a context which is made difficult by the nature of terminal diseases, and by the need for effective listening, communication, and trust when interacting with patients who are reaching the end of their life.