Following publication of the first print edition in 1993, the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine rapidly established itself as the definitive textbook on the subject. Each edition has received widespread critical acclaim, and the book is used across the world by a wide range of health care professionals involved in the care of patients with a terminal illness, or chronic, progressive conditions. Existing readers who automatically turn to the textbook will welcome this new fourth edition of their familiar reference; whilst it will prove invaluable to a new generation of palliative care professionals.

The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine has continually evolved, keeping pace with the rapidly changing face of palliative care. Geoffrey Hanks and Nathan Cherny - the original editors of the textbook - are now joined by four new editors: leaders in the field from the US, UK, and Norway who give the textbook an increased global perspective. The content of the textbook emphasises the multi-disciplinary nature of palliative care throughout, and the 100 chapters cover all areas of palliative care, including: individual professional roles; ethics; communication, psychiatric, spiritual, and psychosocial issues; research in palliative care; the treatment of symptoms; and the role of palliative care in non-malignant diseases and conditions.

The online version of the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine contains the full text of the print edition (which can be browsed by the contents list or searched), links from references in the text to external sources (via PubMed, ISI, and CrossRef), and all figures and illustrations from the print edition, downloadable into PowerPoint.