An MD recipient who completed a surgical residency at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Dr. Khalid Mahmoud Shirif is the owner and medical director at Anthem Hospice in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Khalid Mahmoud Shirif is board certified in general surgery with the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Khalid Shirif’s hospice care center, Anthem Hospice, provides palliative care for patients whose illnesses have progressed to the terminal stage.
Although some people tend to associate palliative care with older patients, it is not explicitly for adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a child with an illness could be an ideal patient for palliative care.
Palliative care for a child refers to the active total care of his or her body, spirit, and mind. It also includes giving support to the child’s family. Following are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding child palliative care:
1. Is it explicitly provided in hospitals?
Not necessarily; it can be delivered in tertiary healthcare facilities or the child’s home.
2. When is the best time to start?
As soon as a serious illness is diagnosed.
3. What benefits will it likely bring to a child?
Essentially, child palliative care aims to relieve the physical, social, and psychological distress resulting from an illness.
Khalid Shirif 