[Hospice--an institution of support to the patient]

The paper summarises the past and the present of the palliative care. The author describes the developement in the field from the times of antiquity, through the deep Christian vocation of middle ages to alleviate pain and misery, the eigthteenth century's enlighted ideas until the relatively recent developement of the idea of hospice pioneered in 1967by dr Cicely Saunders in England, and in 1964 by Chrzanowska in Poland. The role of hospice and palliative care at large is summarised, with special focus on emotional, affirmative, instrumental and information-centered support. The paradox of hospice is discussed, which rests on caring for the incurable patient and helping them comfortably to pass the terminal stages of their disease and life, with dignity, without pain, depression, negligence and deprivation. The hospice movement, drawing form Christian tradition, affirms life while accepting the inevitability of death, opposes the idea of euthanasia, educates the society about the issues related to dying, rests on a set of autonomous units the organisation of which is adapted to local needs, and, finally, acts in concordance with other agendas of the healthcare system. The Polish system constituted by palliative care reach-out teams and palliative units and hospices should be strongly supported and adequately founded to supply best care available to the dying and distressed.