Making the most of a palliative care experience

In the UK nearly half of all deaths happen in hospital and therefore end of life care is a core skill for junior doctors.1 This article outlines the importance and relevance of palliative care and offers advice on how to use a palliative care placement to optimise the future management of patients who are nearing the end of life. The aim of the history, in addition to eliciting the current medical problems and medical background, is to work out how to improve the patient’s quality of life in a way that encompasses their values and priorities and that is also clinically appropriate given the stage of their illness. Inquire about their ideas and expectations around further active treatments—for example, would he or she want to be admitted to hospital for intravenous antibiotics or would they prefer to be treated symptomatically for infection at home? Does the patient have a “do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR)” form?