Hospice care is about improving the quality of life for a patient with a terminal disease. It does not aim to prolong life or hasten death. Hospice gives those who are seriously ill the chance to continue living on the rest of the days in comfort, with pain and symptom management, and with dignity. It also provides spiritual and emotional support, not only for the patient but for the patient’s family as they approach the loss of their loved one.
There are no studies that show hospice hastens death, but there are in fact some studies that show that hospice can actually give a patient more time since their pain and symptoms are managed while receiving hospice care.