THE NEED FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING-PROGRAMS IN PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

CANADA FACES A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING BURDEN of terminal illness. The re are major unresolved economic, ethical and social issues related to care at the end of life. Despite the international reputation for Can adian efforts in palliative care, the medical profession in Canada has largely failed to recognize the importance of the field, as evidenced by the lack of commitment on the part of most medical faculties at Ca nadian universities to developing academic strength in palliative medi cine, the lack of content in the undergraduate curriculum and of postg raduate programs in palliative medicine, and the lack of support for r esearch into end-of-life care. The authors propose a conjoint initiati ve by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the C ollege of Family Physicians of Canada to develop specialized training programs in palliative medicine as a critical step in addressing this crisis.