2025/03/01 · 1 voice
Medicine · #Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
paper · doi:10.1093/med/9780198878353.001.0001
Abstract Oxford Case Histories in Palliative Medicine explores the holistic, compassionate, and multidisciplinary specialist care of patients with life-limiting illness and multimorbidity through 52 clinical and nonclinical cases. Based on the 2022 Higher Specialist Training Curriculum for Palliative Medicine (UK), it guides readers through clinical cases on organ failure, comorbidity, psychiatric conditions, cancer, and sequelae of advanced malignant disease, as well as explores complications of treatment, together with key emergency presentations and their management. Advanced symptom control cases cover aspects such as pain, dyspnoea, and nausea as well as the management of common life-limiting complications of end-stage disease (both malignant and nonmalignant). Complex psychological presentations, holistic spiritual care, and care in the last days of life are also considered. Essential pharmacology and core drugs are reviewed in relation to their action, metabolism, interactions, and other prescribing concerns—extending to wider considerations of counselling and management of polypharmacy. Relevant UK law and important ethical concerns are covered in cases dealing with the Mental Capacity Act (2005), advance care planning, treatment withdrawal, and confidentiality, and broader themes such as the care of underrepresented groups are also touched upon.