Oxford Case Histories Palliative Medicine

Part of the Oxford Case Histories series, this book guides medical professionals and trainees through 52 cases curated to illustrate the varied and often complex landscape of palliative medicine. From advanced symptom management in non-malignant disease, to working in parallel with allied specialties such as oncology, this book equips readers with diagnostic skills and clinical reasoning that helps temper knowledge and understanding with pragmatism and practicality in the face of life-limiting illness.

Based on the core clinical curriculum for higher specialist training in palliative medicine, each case starts with a short vignette, followed by further information or study results, before a series of questions ask for potential diagnoses, actions, or knowledge recall. Answers are accompanied by discussion and suggestions for further reading, enabling readers to gain the necessary skills for confident and competent diagnosis and management. In addition, a selection of non-clinical cases examines other critical areas of frequently engaged expertise for the palliative care physician, exploring themes of advance care planning, resuscitation decisions, ethics, spirituality, and UK law, ensuring broad relevance to anyone looking after those with advanced incurable disease.

Jonathan Pickard, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Benedict’s Hospice and Centre for Specialist Palliative Care, Sunderland, UK, Jonathan Hindmarsh, Accredited Consultant Pharmacist in Palliative and End of Life Care, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and St Benedict’s Hospice and Centre for Specialist Palliative Care, Sunderland, UK

Dr Jonathan Pickard is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine working in the North East of England. An Associate Clinical Lecturer and a keen educator, Jonathan invests time in training tomorrow’s doctors. His areas of interest include communication, oncology, mental capacity, and legal aspects of palliative care. He delivers postgraduate communication seminars to UK Foundation Programme doctors, collaboratively designs and leads an international online course for specialty trainees, and develops digital learning resources, including the curation of an extensive app-based flashcard deck for palliative care physicians. He has written for a nationally-recognised journal, and published case reports on the novel use of established therapeutics alongside his co-editor. His presentation style and creativity are derived from years of professional-level close-up performance magic, which Jonathan has enjoyed as a unique hobby for over 20 years.

Mr Jonathan Hindmarsh is an accredited Consultant Pharmacist operating in the North East of England and is deputy chair of The Association of Supportive and Palliative Care Pharmacy. His clinical areas of interest include opioids, patient safety, and the novel application of pharmaceutical agents. Jonathan is committed to the advancement of the pharmacy profession through education and mentorship. He has authored multiple nationally available educational resources, as well as numerous case studies and original research articles.