ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the development and practice of palliative care, and in doing so, will begin to tease out the central concepts which inform and underpin its practice. It discusses the development and practice of palliative care in general and as it is currently provided in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and in other European countries. The chapter explores the practices closely associated with specialist palliative care, namely palliative sedation and artificial nutrition and hydration. It highlights the ongoing debate surrounding these practices and demonstrates the importance of examining the legal framework for their provision. The chapter underlines the argument that palliative care has largely developed through the actions of representative bodies and charitable organisations rather than being driven by state led initiatives. It also highlights diverging perspectives on palliative care practices, underline points of legal and ethical contention, and will illuminate areas where the legal framework has a significant role in shaping the practice of palliative care.
