**Chapter 18 325**

Perspective Chapter: Who Is Making Decisions? An Open Letter to Healthcare Professionals in the Developing World *by Rasheed Ofosu-Poku*

Preface

Is it necessary to write an additional book on palliative care? This is the question I asked myself when IntechOpen offered me the chance to serve as editor for a book project on the topic. My main doubt was that such a vast argument must be comprehensively addressed for developing a treatise that can be useful for those who already know the subject and for students or non-healthcare providers who are approaching it [1]. Work with these features can take years to complete, and after a

The alternative is to focus the reader's attention on some aspects of the subject and to commission recognized experts to deal with the individual chapters. Although the result of this approach cannot be compared to a textbook, the editorial path is dynamic, fast, and allows the reader to extrapolate what (for example, a chapter)

In truth, in collaboration with the publisher, we had already followed this approach in 2017. With moderate satisfaction, and according to several readers to whom I asked for an opinion, I can affirm that the book Highlights on Several Underestimated Topics in Palliative Care [2] is a decent editorial product. Other publishers have also produced multiple texts on selected issues of palliative care such as pediatric [3] and

Data from clinical studies, evidence-based medicine investigations, and guidelines continuously enrich the wealth of knowledge in all fields of medicine and therefore also in palliative care. In addition, some topics, such as organizational and policy aspects, are very relevant in this area. On this basis, the idea was to collect updated information on selected topics in a new editorial work. In this sense, this book represents the natural complement of the previous book and the wish to publish another volume in the next 2–3 years. However, even if we started thinking of producing a book with few contributions, the enthusiasm of the authors of the chapters and the incredible commitment of the IntechOpen editorial team, led to the creation of a full-bodied volume. Given its eighteen chapters, and thanks to its systematic nature

The second deals with palliative care topics in selected clinical settings, such as palliative care of the infant and child, and in gynecological oncology. The third section focuses on the role of the caregiver. Expert readers will deepen their knowledge on this aspect of fundamental importance, while those who approach the subject will find useful information. The efforts of the authors to address this particularly sensitive subject are appreciable. Subsequently, the fourth section collects chapters on symptoms and the use/effect of drugs in these particularly vulnerable patients. Since pain is the main symptom, its careful assessment and adequate treatment are mandatory. In this context, the use of opioids represents

geriatric palliative care [4], symptom management [5], and ethics [6].

as well as to the value of the authors, it is very close to a textbook.

This book is divided into five sections.

In the first section we have an Introductory chapter.

treatise is completed, it immediately needs updating.

really interests them.
