Vol 8, No 1 (2009)
Review articles
Published online: 2009-02-06
Abstract
This article reflects part of Dr Twycross’ lecture Death without suffering given in October 2008 at the 2nd
Congress of the Polish Association for Palliative Medicine. Much of the content will also be included in
Symptom Management in Advanced Cancer 4th edition 2009, co-authored with Andrew Wilcock and Claire
Stark Toller, whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
The article supplements those published in this journal (vol. 7, no. 3) on the need for a balanced approach in
relation to the issue of sustaining life versus allowing death, and the need to avoid overzealous life-sustaining
treatment in those with end-stage disease. The article has added value in that it is contributed by someone
whose medical career, spanning some 40 years, was spent almost entirely in palliative care.
Abstract
This article reflects part of Dr Twycross’ lecture Death without suffering given in October 2008 at the 2nd
Congress of the Polish Association for Palliative Medicine. Much of the content will also be included in
Symptom Management in Advanced Cancer 4th edition 2009, co-authored with Andrew Wilcock and Claire
Stark Toller, whose contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
The article supplements those published in this journal (vol. 7, no. 3) on the need for a balanced approach in
relation to the issue of sustaining life versus allowing death, and the need to avoid overzealous life-sustaining
treatment in those with end-stage disease. The article has added value in that it is contributed by someone
whose medical career, spanning some 40 years, was spent almost entirely in palliative care.