“Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for patients with advanced illness, and their families. Palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team and offered in conjunction with all other appropriate forms of medical treatment….”  Center to Advance Palliative Care

“Palliative care is an approach which improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing life-threatening illness, through the prevention, assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems. Palliative care:

• Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
• Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process; Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death;
• Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
• Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement;
• Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counseling, if indicated;
• Will enhance the quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of a patient’s illness….”  World Health Organization 2003

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