The Hospice Movement had its beginning in the U.K. some three decades ago and has now spread to over 70 countries throughout the world. It is rooted in the Christian ethos of profound respect of the human person and of human life threatened by inexorable and progressive disease. It has given rise to the new medical specialty of Palliative Medicine which embraces the most recent advances in scientific medicine and psycho-social science in its daily practice of succour and relief of the suffering of patients and their families. The Hospice idea came to Malta ten years ago. It is now well established as a voluntary organisation providing services to sufferers from advanced cancer and motor neurone disease.peer-reviewe
