What is the primary focus of palliative care?

The primary focus of palliative care is to relieve pain and improve the quality of life for patients facing serious illness. This approach emphasizes comfort care, symptom management, and enhancing the overall well-being of the patient, rather than attempting to cure the underlying disease.

While other aspects such as providing emotional support to families and addressing rehabilitation goals can be components of comprehensive care, they are secondary to the main goal of ensuring that patients experience relief from distressing symptoms and maintain the best possible quality of life during their illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment, but its essence lies in prioritizing the patient's comfort and personal values as they navigate their health challenges.