Does hearing the words, Palliative care, frighten you and make you concerned that your carers have given up?

Palliative care is a relatively young speciality in medicine, created in 1967 growing out of the hospice movement at that time. This speciality is holistic in nature, meaning it looks after your physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Most importantly, it aims to support patients to improve or maintain their quality of life when diagnosed with or living with a life-limiting illness.

As General Practice trainee currently working with a Palliative care team in a cancer treatment centre, I wanted to highlight 5 common myths or misconceptions about this area which I hope can change the narrative and open a dialogue about this speciality.

1) Palliative care is only for end-of-life situations

Palliative care is not the same as end-of-life or hospice care, patients with serious illnesses and life limiting conditions may be linked with the palliative team to improve their quality of life by managing symptoms and offering support. This care can be offered throughout their care journey and not just at the end.

2) It means giving up on treatment.

The role of a palliative care provider is to enhance the patient's comfort and their quality of life by optimally managing their symptoms. This input does not replace curative treatment plans. Patients can receive palliative care input while pursuing aggressive treatments aimed at curing their illness.

3) Palliative care is only for cancer patients.

It is true that cancer patients can benefit from input of the palliative care team, however this care is available to patients with many other conditions such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, and neurological conditions such as ALS. The aim of this care is to manage symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain, fatigue, and distress (physical or emotional).

4) It hastens death

Palliative care does not aim to speed up or slow down the natural course of an illness. It focuses on managing physical symptoms while providing emotional, social, and spiritual support for patients.

5) It means losing control over your care

The role of the palliative care team is to empower patients and families by focussing on their goals and preferences thereby taking control of their care. Patients have an active role in decision making with care plans customised to their values and wishes.

The role of Palliative care is commonly misunderstood by our patients and families, it is not about hastening death or giving up, but rather to improve quality of life by supporting those with life limiting illness in a holistic manner.