The IAHPC Manual of Palliative Care
2nd Edition
Published by IAHPC Press
ISBN 0-9758525-1-5
Derek Doyle
OBE, DSc, MD, FRCSE, FRCP (Lond & Edin) & FRCGP
Roger Woodruff
MBBS, FRACP & FAChPM
The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) is a not for profit organization committed to the development of palliative care world-wide.
For this to happen there needs to be better professional education, and health care professionals willing to acquire the
essential knowledge and skills necessary to practice palliative care.
The IAHPC is conscious of the fact that in many countries palliative care textbooks and practice manuals are expensive
or difficult to obtain. Many medical libraries do not hold copies of palliative care journals or reference books, of which there are many. Readers are, however, reminded that the IAHPC runs a Clearing
House Project that distributes donated books and journals to colleagues otherwise unable to purchase them, on application to the Executive Director Contact Here
The IAHPC Manual of Palliative Care is not intended to be a substitute for any textbook or reference book. Nor do its
authors claim that it is exhaustive and comprehensive. It does however contain much of what is necessary for the day-to-day practice of palliative care.
The IAHPC offers this Manual in the hope that doctors and nurses world-wide will find the information in it helpful, will
feel free to download whatever parts of it they want, and will make its existence known to colleagues also seeking to improve their skills so as to offer better care to their terminally ill patients.
We ask two things of those who use it. First that they inform the Executive Director the IAHPC Contact
Here what they think about it and what other material they would have liked included. Second, that if they have it translated into another language they again inform the Executive Director so
that she may know where to refer any enquirers who also want it in that language.
The IAHPC hopes that this Manual, like its bookshop, its Traveling Fellowships, its bursaries and its newsletter will
help to bring palliative care to the thousands of people who still suffer appallingly and quite unnecessarily at the end of life.
Before using the Manual, please read the Disclaimer.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this Manual is presented for the purpose of educating health care providers about
certain aspects of palliative care. The Information should not be relied upon as complete or accurate, nor should it be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual. Patients
with health care related questions or concerns are advised to contact a physician or other qualified health care provider.
The information contained in this Manual is provided "AS IS" without warranty, express or implied. The
IAHPC and IAHPC Press make no warranty as to the reliability, accuracy, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, completeness or suitability of the Information.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the patient care recommendations in this Manual are correct and
in keeping with accepted standards of practice at the time of publication, the authors, the IAHPC and IAHPC Press cannot be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any harm
or damage resulting from the use of the information contained in this publication.
It is the responsibility of the reader, before using any drug, to consult the manufacturer’s product information
in order to check recommended doses, warnings and contraindications. This is particularly important with new or infrequently used drugs.
