/palliativecare/articles/rss en /palliativecare/article/clinical-ethicists-resource-you-never-knew-you-had-0 In our work and in our lives, we set out to do right by others. However, what happens when the best course of action is not obvious? Questions that require ethical decision-making come up naturally in palliative care, and each new situation requires critical thought and communication. The 2025 edition of Palliative Care ɬ�﷬’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Day will feature an ethics panel with Gabrielle Lemieux, M.A.P., David Wright, PhD, and Silvana Barone, MD. To identify key issues and tackle them step by step, the panelists will present cases based on real life events for discussion. As we wait for CPD Day to arrive, ethicist Gabrielle Lemieux enlightens us on a key resource available at the ɬ�﷬ Health Centre (MUHC)—clinical and organizational ethics services. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:30:07 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1810 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/what-potential-burprenorphine-palliative-care Buprenorphine, an opioid partial agonist, is primarily known as a medication used to treat substance use disorder. Its moderate to low physical dependence and ability to be combined with naloxone makes it useful for treating symptoms of withdrawal. But what could it mean for palliative care? Dr. Olivia Nguyen, a palliative medicine physician at CIUSSS Nord-de-l'Île de Montréal and President of the Quebec Society of Palliative Care Physicians, strongly believes in the potential of buprenorphine in palliative care. At this year’s upcoming Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Day, they will tell us everything we need to know about how to use and dose this game-changing molecule. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:13:02 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1807 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/travel-world-palliative-care-jon-baines-tours What can healthcare tell us about a country’s culture? According to Jon Baines, the founder of travel company Jon Baines Tours, quite a lot. He has been leading groups of healthcare professionals around the world for around 20 years, providing insights into the way other cultures view their profession. Among many offerings are tours specifically designed for palliative care workers. Through guided trips to destinations in India, China, South Africa, Nepal, and Vietnam, among others, Jon and his team have helped countless practitioners explore the world of palliative care beyond their own cultural contexts. Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:58:39 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1803 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/dr-cyr-and-cannabis-palliative-care-strew-path-tomb-flowers Dr. Claude Cyr is a palliative care doctor at the ɬ�﷬ Health Centre. An interest in the medical use of cannabis led him to his former position as an Associate Researcher for the Quebec Cannabis Registry, the world’s first research database on the use of cannabis for medical purposes. On Palliative Care ɬ�﷬’s Continuing Professional Development Day (November 21st, 2025), Dr. Cyr will discuss the potential of cannabis use in palliative care. In this interview, provides us with his insight ahead of his talk. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:49:22 +0000 Vanessa Ruan 1801 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/new-hope-hope-cope-interview-executive-director-romain-rigal Romain Rigal is the newest Executive Director of Hope & Cope, a non-profit cancer care organization affiliated with Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital. He first stepped into this role last May, bringing insights from his 20 years of experience in healthcare management leadership. As Hope & Cope moves into the next phase of its life, we caught up with Mr. Rigal to see where the organization is headed. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:32:10 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1799 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/letter-chair-memory-dr-balfour-mount On Thursday evening, at approximately 10 PM, Dr. Balfour Mount died in the Palliative Care Unit that bears his name at the Royal Victoria Hospital of the ɬ�﷬ Health Centre. He led a remarkable life and a celebrated career as the “father” of palliative care. He was 86 years old. In the days that come, there is much that will be said and remembered about “Bal,” as he was known in this community and beyond. There are countless recipients of this letter who knew Bal better and for much longer than I. However, I want to take this opportunity to write not of his accomplishments – including, perhaps, anyone who reads this letter – but of what lessons I believe he still has to teach us. Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:55:05 +0000 Justin Sanders 1795 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/substance-abuse-disorder-palliative-care-and-humanity-insights-dr-marie-helene-marchand Dr. Marie-Hélène Marchand is a family doctor at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital specializing in palliative care and working in addiction medicine at CLSC Hochelaga. She is the co-founder of Project Maison Mobile, which focuses on providing palliative care to the homeless population of Montréal. On Palliative Care ɬ�﷬’s Continuing Professional Development Day (November 21st, 2025), Dr. Marchand will be giving a (hybrid) talk on Palliative Care and Substance Use Disorder, which discusses the treatment approaches for palliation in patients with a history of substance use disorder. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:53:53 +0000 Vanessa Ruan 1789 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/qa-harvey-max-chochinov-intensive-caring-intensive-suffering Ahead of his September 17th lecture, “Dignity, Personhood and Intensive Suffering: New Insights into Patient Suffering,” part of the ɬ�﷬ Palliative Care National Grand Rounds Programme, Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD, FRCPC, sat down with Devon Phillips to share his thoughts after many years in the field of palliative care as a Distinguished Professor, Senior Scientist and Researcher. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:52:37 +0000 Devon Phillips 1787 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/qa-dr-marian-grant-why-serious-illness-messaging-matters At a glance, Marian Grant’s path to palliative care seems unconventional. Fresh out of college, she worked at P&G and eventually was “a brand manager in the company that invented brand” before pivoting to nursing. However, her career shift was not as odd as her marketing colleagues initially believed. Dr. Grant’s marketing acumen and understanding of consumer needs informs her advocacy for improved outreach to the public about palliative care. As our June National Grand Rounds speaker, Dr. Grant brings us her those insights in the St. Mary’s Hospital Lecture. Wed, 28 May 2025 18:33:07 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1784 at /palliativecare /palliativecare/article/qa-zelda-freitas-understanding-caregiver-grief-anticipatory-and-post-caregiving-grief Where do caregivers turn after their loved one passes on? What support is there when the caregiving team disbands? These are the difficult questions caregivers face at the start of the bereavement process. To address these overlooked issues, Zelda Freitas, a social worker from Caregiver Grief Connexion and member of the ɬ�﷬ Council on Palliative Care, aims to use her years of work in palliative care, caregiving, and grief to educate. Together, with research-practitioner and associate professor at the ɬ�﷬ School of Social Work, Professor Pam Orzeck, the Caregiver Grief Connexion will provide insights into the issues of caregiver grief and available resources at Palliative Care ɬ�﷬’s upcoming National Palliative Care Week. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:19:25 +0000 alexandra.frail@mcgill.ca 1775 at /palliativecare