Questão de Língua Inglesa

Palliative Care and the Relief of Suffering Palliative care is an approach designed to improve the quality of life of adults and children living with serious or life-threatening illnesses, as well as that of their families. Its purpose is not limited to the final days of life. When introduced early, it can accompany other forms of treatment while helping patients manage pain, breathlessness, fatigue, anxiety, and other sources of distress. This approach recognizes that suffering may be physical, psychological, social, or spiritual. For this reason, palliative care commonly involves a multidisciplinary team that may include physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals. By considering the patient’s values, preferences, and personal circumstances, the team seeks to provide care that is both clinically appropriate and centred on the person. Palliative care also extends support to families and caregivers, who may experience emotional strain, practical difficulties, and grief. Nevertheless, access to these services remains unequal. Limited professional training, inadequate availability of essential medicines, misconceptions about palliative care, and weaknesses in health systems can prevent patients from receiving appropriate support. Integrating palliative care into primary healthcare and other health services is therefore an important public health objective. Such integration may reduce unnecessary hospital Página 8 admissions and interventions while promoting dignity, comfort, communication, and shared decision-making. In this perspective, relieving suffering is not an alternative to medical care but an essential dimension of comprehensive healthcare. Adapted from: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Palliative care. Geneva: WHO, 5 Aug. 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care. Accessed on: 16 July 2026.