[Progress in palliative medicine]

The major factors in the progress in palliative medicine in Japan are the hospice movement, as represented by the activities of the Japanese Association for Clinical Research on Death and Dying, and interdisciplinary research on the quality of life (QOL), particularly in the field of clinical oncology. Palliative medicine as a new paradigm today encompasses the fields of biology, psychology, sociology, and ethics, all of which are making steady progress under the banner of evidence-based medicine. In recent years, the problems of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, subjects of great debate and public concern, especially in America and European countries, have been studied in the field of psycho-oncology and continue to attract considerable attention. The relationship between depression and social supports is said to be of particular importance. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has made a positive statement to the effect that it would not hesitate in confronting the so-called "end-of-life" issue. All of these global trends point to the increasing importance of palliative medicine.