Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (Hardcover)

~ Derek Doyle (Editor), Geoffrey Hanks (Editor), Nathan I. Cherny (Editor), Sir Kenneth Calman (Editor) "A useful definition with which to start is that prepared and adopted in Great Britain in 1987 when palliative medicine was recognized as a medical..." (more)
Key Phrases: palliative medicine education, multipurpose analgesics, spinal opioid therapy, New York, United Kingdom, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Review from previous edition ...will surely become the definitive reference book for everyone practicing in this field... should find a place in every library and palliative care unit.' Palliative Care

`This book is an important benchmark in palliative medicine and should remove from the clinicians language the phrase 'Nothing more can be done'. Indeed, it is the premier textbook of knowledge about what can be done. It should be required reading for oncologists and hospice clinicians, as well as for primary care physicians.' New England Journal of Medicine

`Comprehensive coverage, readable and informative style, and up to date and scientifically presented information make the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine a welcome and excellent textbook. The book's coverage of practical issues is excellent. Management of symptoms is covered comprehensively and clearly, and ethical, cultural, and spiritual issues are discussed in an informative style... This is an important, well written, and extremely useful book.' British Medical Journal

`This is the second edition of the most authoritative work encompassing the greater part of palliative care. There is material here for all disciplines ... admirably fulfils its role as a source of evidence-based practice in palliative care ... this edition strengthens the Oxford textbook's position as the definitive overview of the field and pracitioners will want to have it available to them, either in their libraries or on their own bookshelves. The editors are to be congratulated on having drawn together all of this material from over 100 contributors.' Stephen Kirkham, Palliative Medicine 1997 12

`The editors of Palliative Medicine have gathered together 134 contributors from all over the world to produce this splendid medical reference book. The book is all you would expect of a modern medical textbook with boxes, tables and lengthy reference lists.' The Proceedings of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

`...the definitive textbook on the subject has now gone to the second edition only five years since the first edition...a tour de force of the palliative care and although the work Medicine is used in the title, this is very definitely a multi-disciplinary textbook..This is a thoroughly readable textbook which should be available to all doctors and nurses who come into contact with patients with incurable disease as especially in the last few months of life the carers usually only have "one chance to get it right".' John Moyle, Pain Network Newsletter, no.19, Summer 1998.

`This is a welcome revision to the first edition, which was published in 1993. Developments since then have necessitated a new edition of this outstanding and definitive text. Much of the material has been revised, new material and authors added, and a few of the best sections in the first edition have been kept...This is a rich, comprehensive, and current account of palliative medicine. It may be recommended to all physicians and other professionals with an interest in the care of the terminally ill. The text reflects the speciality's interdisciplinary nature by drawing on authors throughout the world who represent a wide array of disciplines.' John F. Seely MD, Annals of the Royal College of Pysicians and Surgeons of Canada, Vol.31, no.4, June 1998

'The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine is the best selling 'Oxford Textbook' in relation to the size of the specialty...Because this edition is so user-friendly, one is easily side-tracked by new and intriguing subject headings, which means one inevitably reads far more than one intended to - a delightful recreation...'

The first edition sold mainly to doctors and the second edition is even more attractive... The medical market is ensured, partly because of this and partly because no respectable doctor in palliative medicine would wish to be seen without a copy prominently displayed upon his/her bookshelf...Doctors training in specialist palliative medicine will find this an invaluable resource...'

`Nurses too will be enthusiastci about this edition which contains much new material which will be of interest to nurses...'' Progress in Palliative Care

Product Description

St. Columba's Hospice, Edinburgh, UK. Provides comprehensive coverage of ethical issues, communication, research, patient evaluation and outcome measures, the principles of drug use, symptom management, and the management of pain. Features 66 new chapters. Also discusses the emerging role of physiotherapists in this field. Previous edition: c1998.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1280 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (November 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198510985
• ISBN-13: 978-0198510987
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,514,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine 3e, February 1, 2004

By	R. Woodruff (Malvern, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's here. What we've all been waiting for. The third edition of the OTPM. And it does not disappoint.

This edition looks to be largely re-written, not just up-dated, and there are many new contributors. There is a new section on the palliation of non-malignant disease, which I think will be particularly useful for the majority of us who deal primarily with advanced cancer. New chapters deal with the role of each of the allied health professionals who make up the multidisciplinary team. There are also new chapters on the principles of evidence-based medicine and on learning communication skills, both of which I think are particularly welcome.

It is not possible to review each section of what is a very large textbook. Overall, it provides good coverage of the whole field of palliative medicine. Duplication, as may occur in any multi-authored text, has been kept to a minimum. Although it has about the same number of pages, the use of a smaller (but very legible) font gives the impression that this edition is considerably larger and has a lot more information than the previous one. I have to declare that I wrote the chapter on HIV/AIDS in Adults, about which nothing more will be said, but had nothing else to do with the production of this book.

Is it up to date? I browsed a few areas where practice has changed in the last few years and found good coverage for selective COX-2 inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists and interventional radiology, although the usefulness of low molecular weight heparins in palliative care has not been emphasized.

Is it worth it? The book is not cheap by anybody's standards. But the answer has to be yes because this book will remain the gold standard reference in palliative medicine for the next few years at least. The editors are to be congratulated on the successful completion of what is a very impressive reference. And all who work in palliative medicine owe a debt of gratitude to Derek Doyle, who has now pioneered this book through three editions.

Dr Roger Woodruff
Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia

4.0 out of 5 stars size of letters, May 12, 2007

By	Kim Min Jung (Seoul,Korea) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (Paperback)

the quality of paper and thickness of the book is much improved ,so can the size of letters be increased?

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Palliative Medicine, January 30, 2000

By	Dr Jean BOSLY (Liége, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (Oxford Medical Publications) (Hardcover)

For local physician's association who counts up to 350 GP'