To relieve often

    To comfort always"

     Anonymous (16th Century)

Palliative care is not a new medical specialty. It is the oldest. It is mainstream medicine since time immemorial.  Physicians and nurses frequently only had palliation to offer to all incurable diseases.  However, the last hundred year saw the era of technologically sophisticated medicine. The practice of palliative care was masked and conveniently forgotten. However, over the last several decades, several palliative care movements have brought back palliative care and introduce the new medical and scientific advances of the last decades which are of great benefit in the practice of palliative care. The landmark hospice movement led by Dr Cicely Saunders was probably the most important. She opened the St Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967.

What is modern palliative care?

Better knowledge of disease processes and symptomatology, together with advances in pharmacology, surgery and radiotherapy have enhanced the medical care. Add to this is an improved understanding of the importance of psychosocial, cultural and spiritual suffering associated with advanced disease. It is now possible to provide holistic care for patients with advanced diseases. This is offered in all modern palliative care centre.

"Death should simply become a discreet but dignified exit of a peaceful person from a helpful society....

without pain or suffering and ultimately without fear."

Philippe Aries, 1977, The Hour of Our Death