World Health Organization Definition of Palliative Care
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care:
- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- intends neither to hasten or postpone death
- integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
- offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement
- uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counseling, if indicated
- will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness
- is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.
World Health Organization Definition of Palliative Care for Children
Palliative care for children represents a special, albeit closely related field to adult palliative care. WHO’s definition of palliative care appropriate for children and their families is as follows: (WHO; 1998a):
- Palliative care for children is the active total care of the child's body, mind and spirit, and also involves giving support to the family.
- It begins when illness is diagnosed, and continues regardless of whether or not a child receives treatment directed at the disease.
- Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child's physical, psychological, and social distress.
- Effective palliative care requires a broad multidisciplinary approach that includes the family and makes use of available community resources; it can be successfully implemented even if resources are limited. It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centers and even in children's homes.The PaCHaPCC is committed to providing information to professionals throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
The complete 2009 Pennsylvania State Task Force on Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care can be read by following the link below:
( PPHC Task Force Table of Contents.pdf )
The entire content of the Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care (PPHC) Task Force Final Report (November 2008) was compiled, researched, analyzed, composed, and created by the Membership of Pennsylvania’s Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Task Force with support from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Any use, reproductions, and/or distribution of the content and/of work product of any of the information, stories, and/or testimonies contained in this Report without the written authorization of Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare is prohibited. Furthermore, we ask that you (1) please respect the countless hours of dedication, hard work, and energy that the PPHC Task Force Membership has put into creating this Final Report and (2) do not utilize and/or employ any of the information contained in the PPHC Task Force Final Report (November 2008) without prior written authorization.
Many of the Subcommittee Chapters contained in the Final Report, include Vignettes, Case Studies, and Stories (some factual, some fictitious) that illustrate different points and convey the experiences of family members and professionals. In the case of fact-based narratives and vignettes, DPW has obtained authorization from appropriate family members/representatives to release any details. However, whenever deemed appropriate, DPW has modified details to protect the identities and personal information included in the PPHC Task Force Final Report (November 2008).
If you have any questions regarding the PPHC Task Force, its processes, the PPHC Task Force Final Report (November 2008), or the use of this Report’s content and/or work product contained in or associated with this Report, please contact the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Public Welfare, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at (717) 787-2600, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. You may also request information regarding usage authorizations by contacting us in writing at the following address:
Office of the Secretary
Health and Welfare Building
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2675.
You can obtain contact information for your local Representative by going to:
( http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm )