Hôtel-Dieu de France organized a special day dedicated to palliative care, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in supporting patients. The event, which took place on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the N. and H. Obegi Auditorium, brought together numerous healthcare professionals to promote a holistic and human-centered approach to care.

The day was attended by Mr. Nassib Nasr, General Director of the hospital, Professor Georges Dabbar, Director of Medical Affairs, Dr. Lynn Abdo, Head of the Palliative Care Department, Professor Elie Nemr, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Saint Joseph University, as well as Assistant Professor Eliane Ayoub and many other directors, heads of departments, and leaders from the hospital network.

During the event, Dr. Lynn Abdo emphasized: “Your presence today is a testament to our shared commitment to providing care that is dignified, compassionate, and humane to those suffering and their families. Palliative care, beyond just a medical discipline, is a true human support, aimed at alleviating the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering of patients. This day is a unique opportunity to exchange, share knowledge, and experiences. It is through such gatherings that we can improve our practices and strengthen our cohesion as a multidisciplinary team. The importance of this event lies in our ability to reflect together on the evolution of palliative care and how to provide high-quality support, whether in the hospital or at home.”

On this special occasion, Mr. Nasr firmly stated: “The palliative care service at Hôtel-Dieu de France is a unique model in Lebanon, even within our own institution. Beyond the quality of medical and nursing care, our mission is total human support, aiming to ensure the well-being of patients, their families, and our teams. The feedback I have received about this service has been so positive that we have expanded home hospitalization for palliative care this year, and we hope to extend this model to our other five hospitals in the network. This service aims to reduce suffering and provide patients with as comfortable care as possible.”

Professor Georges Dabbar, for his part, highlighted: “At Hôtel-Dieu de France, the palliative care service is a pioneer, being the first of its kind in Lebanon. It was under the influence of the Jesuit Fathers and their humanism that the spirit of palliative care took root at Hôtel-Dieu. Thanks to our team’s dedication, we have managed to obtain recognition for home palliative care by the Lebanese social security system, a crucial step in the evolution of the discipline. Today, Hôtel-Dieu de France and its team serve as a model for other palliative care facilities in Lebanon, offering each patient dignified, human support until the end of their life.”

To conclude the event, Professor Eliane Ayoub shared: “The palliative care service today is an effective team because it prioritizes the patient, while providing essential support to families and the institution. It is hard to imagine a healthcare institution today without a palliative care unit. What you do is immense: accompanying patients with dignity, respect, and listening. Indeed, we are all destined to die one day, but dying with dignity, surrounded and supported, is a fundamental right. It is crucial that we instill this culture in future generations of healthcare providers, so that this model becomes a cornerstone of our healthcare system.”

The day was divided into several sessions covering key themes in palliative care. The first session addressed rites of death, spirituality among non-believers, and the issue of futile medical interventions. The second session explored the role of cannabis in palliative care, the importance of palliative care in oncology, and palliative radiotherapy.

The third session allowed for an exchange of experiences between oncology and palliative care, focusing on grief preparation. The fourth session addressed the mental health of patients, assisted suicide, and psychological support for physical and emotional pain. Finally, the day concluded with testimonies from the family members of patients receiving palliative care.

These discussions underscored the importance of a holistic and human-centered approach in caring for patients.

This event reflects Hôtel-Dieu de France’s ongoing commitment to continually improving patient care, particularly in sensitive and essential areas like palliative care.