Palliative philosophy: the ethical underpinning.

This article explores the ethical underpinnings of palliative care and how contemporary surgical care reinforces much of the basis of palliative medicine. A common misconception is that palliative medicine has grown out of the rise of patient's rights; however, palliative care is grounded in the principle of beneficence that is central to traditional medical values. This article explores the notion of beneficence to understand how contemporary surgical care can be undertaken and how it is consistent with palliative care. Some of the difficulties with the dichotomy between curative and palliative care models in surgical practice are discussed. Finally, this article considers how the underlying philosophy of palliative care is consistent with the historical tradition of surgery and the contemporary goals of surgical care.