A new study from **Washington State University** has revealed significant gaps in the education of medical students regarding end-of-life care. Researchers found that U.S. medical schools largely fail to provide formal training on how to guide patients and their families through the complex issues surrounding death and dying. This review, published in **Academic Medicine** in March 2025, highlights a critical area of concern in medical training.
The research team, led by **Logan Patterson**, a recent graduate of WSU’s **Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine**, analyzed 43 published papers on the subject dating back to 2013. The findings indicate a troubling lack of evidence-based education on end-of-life care. Most medical students do not receive adequate training until they are already practicing, which can lead to discomfort in discussing death with patients, particularly those with terminal conditions.
Patterson, who plans to specialize in radiation oncology and is currently completing a residency in Spokane, emphasized the importance of discussing death openly. “Doctors need to be comfortable with the topic of death and talking to patients about it, especially those with cancer,” he stated. He pointed out that while medical institutions recognize the need for this training, the challenge lies in integrating it into the existing curriculum, which often prioritizes other areas due to the demands of medical testing.
Call for Comprehensive Training
The review highlights that existing training programs often employ low-rigor designs. Many interventions focus on imparting new information and integrating skills, but are typically short in duration. This lack of thorough training can lead to missed opportunities for meaningful conversations between doctors and patients.
Patterson recalled instances during his medical education where inadequate training had real-world consequences. “If you do one shift in an emergency room, you’ll likely see a patient who hasn’t grappled with end-of-life questions,” he noted. “Families often bring patients with chronic conditions to the hospital under the assumption that this is what they want, only to find out that is not the case.”
Moreover, **Raven Weaver**, another researcher involved in the study and an associate professor specializing in gerontological issues, noted that better training could lead to reduced healthcare costs. “Research shows that healthcare is most expensive in the last year of life, and a lot of that is unwanted treatment,” she explained. She emphasized that while physicians aim to save lives, there is often a lack of consideration for the quality of life.
The researchers advocate for the development of evidence-based educational interventions that can be integrated across medical school curricula, regardless of the students’ anticipated specialty areas. They hope to inspire medical schools to prioritize this critical aspect of training, which could ultimately result in better patient care.
Patterson concluded by asserting the shared sentiment among many doctors about the inadequacy of current death and dying training. “Almost any doctor will tell you there’s a lack of death and dying training. It’s inevitable that doctors will talk about this with patients. Any boost of knowledge early in their careers will only help them and those they care for.”
The study serves as a call to action for medical institutions to address this essential component of medical education, ensuring that future physicians are equipped to handle one of life’s most challenging conversations with compassion and understanding.
