Byock has been a leader of palliative and Hospice care since the late 1970s. The following article by Byock appeared in the discussion guide that accompanied the PBS series.
Palliative care is comprehensive care for people with life-limiting illness.
It is a team approach focusing on the needs of ill people and their families. Patients can continue to fight their disease, while palliative care focuses on improving their quality of life. Hospice is one form of palliative care. Like hospice palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and a patient's home. Currently, in order to receive hospice care, a doctor has to certify that a patient's life expectancy is six months or less and both patient and doctor must agree to forgo further surgery, radiation or chemotherapy directed at prolonging life.