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Who we are

The Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine (CSPM) is the national specialty society for palliative care physicians. It was formed as a grassroots movement in 1993 by pioneers of Palliative Medicine in Canada and represents 700 physicians across Canada, including regional and local palliative care program leaders, educators, residency directors, and palliative care residents.

In June 2024, the Society changed its name from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians to the Canadian Society of Palliative Medicine to better represent the development and recognition of the field, emphasize the role of being the medical experts in palliative medicine and better communicate the Society’s specific mission and vision.

VISION

Throughout Canada, everyone has access to high-quality palliative care.

MISSION

To promote Palliative Medicine in Canada through advanced education, strengthening the workforce, and advocacy.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

  • Improve Practice
  • Advocate
  • Support Palliative Medicine Physicians

What is palliative care

Definition from the World Health Organization

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of persons and their families facing the problem associated with life-limiting illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care:

  • Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
  • Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
  • Intends neither to hasten or postpone death
  • Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of care
  • Offers a support system to help persons live as actively as possible until death
  • Offers a support system to help the family cope during the person’s illness and in their own bereavement
  • Uses a team approach to address the needs of persons and their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated
  • Will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness
  • Is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications

What is palliative medicine

Palliative Medicine is concerned with the study and advancement, assessment, and medical management of pain, suffering, and quality of life throughout the continuum of life and death for patients with chronic or life-threatening illness, and throughout the bereavement of the patients’ families.