New frontiers in palliative care

Abstract

Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach provided to patients and their families when the medical expectation of recovery is negligible. Palliative care does not focus on a single disease. However, it takes into account the integrity of the human being, allowing the patient to improve his or her quality of life and relief from the suffering imposed by adverse medical conditions. The increasing need for a comprehensive approach in health care for patients and families suffering from cancer and noncancer chronic degenerative diseases makes palliative care an indispensable resource in today's society. The current demographic changes and the increased incidence of cancer and chronic diseases is consolidating the practice of palliative care and expanding its frontiers to face new research challenges in areas such as palliative care in children and nonmalignant diseases, public health policy, education in palliative care, and euthanasia.