Palliative Care is specialized medical care providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a severe illness. The idea of palliative care grew out of the hospice movement and is focused on improving a patient's quality of life. Counseling, a critical component of palliative care, is vital in helping both patient and family members set realistic goals based on desired outcomes.

Imagine making one of the most critical decisions in a person's life with no input from that person. That is the reality people face daily in hospitals across the US when loved ones fail to make their healthcare wishes known.