Rescuing beyond cure: Adapting rescue fantasies in palliative care

Rescue fantasies, or the desire to “save” patients, are common among healthcare providers. However, in palliative care, when curing is not an option, these fantasies may conflict with the realities of end-of-life care. This study explores how palliative care staff modify their rescue fantasies to align with the unique characteristics of their work. Thirteen staff members from an Israeli hospital’s palliative care unit participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants acknowledged the impossibility of saving patients’ lives in palliative care, yet did not entirely abandon their rescue fantasies. Instead, these fantasies were adapted into two distinct themes: (a) rescuing patients’ quality of life, and (b) rescuing patients’ families. By shifting their focus from saving lives to enhancing quality of life and supporting families, staff members navigate the emotional challenges of their work while maintaining their professional identities.