ABSTRACT
The ‘art and science’ of palliative care lies in considering every aspect of people’s lives which may be important in providing ‘total care’. An integral part of this consideration is the person’s culture. Each patient or family displays a different set of mores, expectations, patterns of relationship and verbal and non-verbal reactions to situations. These responses are partly defined by cultural patterns learnt from babyhood and evolved by exposure to other cultural influences. Good cultural care and appreciation of ‘cultural pain’ must be part of the holistic approach delivered in the management of advanced disease.
