Is a "palliative" patient always a palliative patient? Two case studies.

Review of the literature suggests that misdiagnosis of terminal illness is infrequent. In the first 6 months of the recently established Edmonton Regional Palliative Care Program, two of 330 referrals proved to be in the category of erroneous diagnosis of terminal disease. These two cases are reported, along with discussion of aspects of the time-honored usefulness of careful history and physical examination. This experience highlights the importance of assessment, investigation, and aggressive therapy, even in "terminal" patients, including those in the geriatric population.