Palliative care: A “missing chapter” in medical science

Abstract

Palliative care is a method which provides special care to patients and families facing progressive and fatal diseases. This care emphasizes on giving relief from psychological problems, spiritual distress and physical symptoms. Understanding and learning of applying principles of palliative medicine are important in the field of palliative care. This review provides an idea about the status of palliative care, hospice care and integration of palliative care in the Indian curriculum of medical science. Many studies suggest that palliative care is appropriate in the care of chronic illness. But research and educational progress of palliative care are still scarce in present day technology based knowledge of medical biology. Our aim in this review is to focus the light on the dearth of knowledge for integrative palliative care needed for the medical professional of chronic diseases, researchers and others related to palliative care.