TY  - JOUR
T1  - When it's the right care, more is better: Comment on “palliative care and quality of life” and “pain as a cause of agitated delirium”
AU  - Pantilat SZ
Y1  - 2012/08/13
N1  - 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2894
JO  - Archives of Internal Medicine
SP  - 1172
EP  - 1173
VL  - 172
IS  - 15
N2  - 
The front page of the Wall Street Journal reports that, according to a randomized clinical trial, a new drug, palliatosin, when given to patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer, like the patient described by Kirch,1reduces depression, improves quality of life, and, as emblazoned in the headline, lengthens life by 2½ months. Based on the results of this trial, the stock price for the maker of palliatosin rises sharply. Word spreads like wildfire among patients, driving intense demand for palliatosin. The manufacturer struggles to maintain adequate supplies. Palliatosin is hailed as a major breakthrough in cancer care. Although it costs $2000 a month and was tested only in patients with incurable lung cancer, physicians prescribe palliatosin to patients with all types of cancer at all stages based on its impressive impact and complete lack of adverse effects.

SN  - 0003-9926
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2894
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2894
ER  -