palliatifs

Palliatifs, or palliatives, are measures or interventions designed to alleviate symptoms, distress, or adverse effects without addressing the underlying cause. The term is used in various fields, most prominently in health care and social policy.

In health care, palliatifs are central to palliative care, which seeks to improve quality of life for people with life-limiting or serious illnesses through prevention and relief of suffering. The approach is multidisciplinary, integrating medical treatment with psychosocial and spiritual support, and emphasizes early integration, patient and family goals, and advance care planning. Common domains include pain and symptom management, communication about prognosis and preferences, and coordination of care across hospital, home, and hospice settings.

In public policy and economics, palliatifs refer to temporary measures intended to cushion individuals or communities from the immediate impact of a crisis, such as subsidies, tax relief, or price controls. While useful to bridge gaps, they are generally not meant as sustainable solutions and may carry trade-offs or distort incentives if relied upon long term.

Ethical considerations in palliatifs include informed consent, autonomy, equity of access, and alignment with patient or stakeholder values. In pediatrics and geriatrics, palliative measures are tailored to developmental and life-stage needs.

Not to be confused with curative therapies, palliatifs aim to relieve suffering rather than cure disease, though they can accompany disease-modifying treatments.