What is palliative care?

What is palliative care?

• A. Curative therapy only
• B. Aggressive surgical intervention
• C. Provide relief of symptoms from chronic/terminal illness to improve quality of life
• D. Pain-free care only at end of life

Answer: (C)

Palliative care centers on relief from suffering and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses. It targets symptom control (like pain, shortness of breath, fatigue), functional difficulties, and psychosocial or spiritual needs, rather than trying to cure the disease itself. It can be started at any stage of an illness and is appropriate alongside disease-directed or curative treatments, delivered by a multidisciplinary team in hospital, clinic, or home settings. The statement that best fits this concept describes providing relief of symptoms from chronic or terminal illness to improve quality of life. It captures the focus on comfort and daily living, not just curing the illness, not requiring aggressive procedures, and not limited to end-of-life only.

Palliative care centers on relief from suffering and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses. It targets symptom control (like pain, shortness of breath, fatigue), functional difficulties, and psychosocial or spiritual needs, rather than trying to cure the disease itself. It can be started at any stage of an illness and is appropriate alongside disease-directed or curative treatments, delivered by a multidisciplinary team in hospital, clinic, or home settings.

The statement that best fits this concept describes providing relief of symptoms from chronic or terminal illness to improve quality of life. It captures the focus on comfort and daily living, not just curing the illness, not requiring aggressive procedures, and not limited to end-of-life only.