Responding to a challenge of Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation , Isabel Galriça Neto synthetized in a book a large part of her experience in palliative care, for the purpose of showing to everyone in a simple way in what it consists in practical terms, thus also dispelling some myths. Thus arose the book “Cuidados Paliativos – Conheça-os melhor” (Palliative Care – Know more about), edited by this foundation and with a preface by the Portuguese President of the Republic , Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, that is for sale on bookstores since the beginning of this week and also in Pingo Doce network of stores, as usual. “The main purpose of this book is to humbly contribute to increase the literacy of civil society on what is really palliative care . I would be very happy if more and more people could have access to palliative care, after reading it”, states the director of the Unit of Continuing and Palliative Care from Hospital da Luz Lisboa. Throughout the book, she explains namely that palliative care is not only destined to terminal patients, but to those who live with serious conditions in any phase of their lives, finding here a specialized answer to their physical and psychological suffering. The book constitutes, therefore, a true “guided tour to the reality of people who suffer from incurable and progressive diseases, and to the work of the professionals that treat them”. People who have chronic and incapacitating diseases and who are in need of help, as well as their families and caretakers, may find in this book a series of answers on the transforming role that palliative care can have in their lives, alleviating their suffering. Isabel Galriça Neto is specialized in General and Family Medicine and in Palliative Medicine, teaches at Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa and Universidade Católica, was a member of the Portuguese National Assembly and president of the Portuguese Association of Palliative Care. She works in the area for more than 25 years, having dealt with over six thousand patients and respective families. In 2004, she was bestowed by the President of the Republic with the title of Commander of the Order of Merit.
