Barriers Behind Bars: A Duty Towards a Dignified Death

Abstract: Persons who are and have been incarcerated with terminal diagnoses experience a plethora of poor health outcomes, both medical and psychosocial. Moreover, the multidimensional complexities of their circumstances pose particular challenges at the end-of-life creating an access inequity in hospice care for this vulnerable population. Hospice philosophy, to decrease suffering and provide compassionate care for those with life-limiting illness is at odds with this reality. Hospice agencies have yet to create collaborative relationships, decrease this disparity, and improve trusting partnerships with patients and regulatory systems. We are overdue. We need to create opportunities for collaboration, improve training for clinicians, and honor our responsibility to preserve the dignity of all patients with high-quality end-of-life care. This workshop will be a step towards that collaboration.