All the chapters of the first edition have been reviewed and many have been completely rewritten. We have added new sections on antibiotics, increased emphasis on nonmalignant disease, learning disabilities, palliative care in developing countries and communication. We therefore welcome to our team, Jo Wells, who is a nurse consultant in palliative care. We have been encouraged by colleagues to make the material presented here more relevant to non- medical readers. The first edition of the Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care has been warmly received.
