About the Chapter of Palliative Medicine

The Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine is a chapter of the Adult Medicine Division (AMD) and has been recognised as a medical specialty by the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing.

The Chapter provides a collegiate home for palliative medicine specialists and has the following objectives:

• to promote the study of and the advancement of knowledge in the field of palliative medicine;
  
• to promote and encourage high levels of skill and expertise and high ethical standards in the practice of palliative medicine;
  
• to raise and maintain the educational standards of medical graduates wishing to enter
  the field of palliative medicine;
  
• to act as an authoritative body for the purpose of consultation in matters of educational or public interest in connection with
  the field of palliative medicine;
  
• to foster collaboration with clinicians and other persons and organisations to further or advance knowledge in the field of palliative
  medicine; and
  
• to encourage research in matters connected with the field of palliative medicine.

At its Annual General Meeting in May 1999, the College resolved to establish the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine within the Adult Medicine Division. In September 1999, Council approved By-laws for the Chapter, appointed the Interim Committee and approved guidelines for Foundation Fellowship.

Palliative Medicine, the medical care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment, requires a broad range of clinical and administrative skills. The only specialist training program available in Australasia is administered by the RACP and produces one to three consultant physicians in palliative medicine each year. These have a strong background in internal medicine to which is added experience in aspects of palliative care. Our Fellows, with their internal medicine skills, are an important part of the palliative care team.

The ageing of the Australasian population and the large number of patients with incurable cancers, end stage diseases and HIV/AIDS means that there is a large and growing need for medical practitioners with skills in palliative medicine. Many, perhaps made more empathetic by life events and increasing maturity, move into this area later in their career. They bring to palliative medicine not only valuable human attributes but skills gained from training and practice in areas such as radiation oncology, anaesthetics/pain management, general practice, surgery, psychiatry and even obstetrics and gynaecology. These practitioners now provide most of the palliative care in our community.

There are few training opportunities for this large number of doctors practising in palliative medicine. Some universities offer Master of Medicine programs. These provide academic, but little clinical, training. A three year certificate program in Sydney does offer clinical training (that is recognised by employing health organisations) but neither this nor the Masters programs provide specialist training (that is recognised by the Health Insurance Commission), a collegiate identity or continuing medical education. The Chapter has been formed to rectify this.

The Chapter

The RACP has agreed to provide a training and assessment program of high quality leading to specialist recognition and inclusion in the College. This will recognise the "physicianly" aspects of practice in palliative medicine, the need for a wide spectrum of clinical skills and a team approach, the fact of lateral entry to palliative medicine in mid-career from other medical backgrounds and the need for a collegiate identity.

The aim is to produce a new group of specialists in palliative medicine who add to previous experience in other fields training in palliative medicine at specialist level. These will bring different and important skills, complementing those of consultant physicians in palliative medicine.