Exploring words and busting myths associated with palliative and end of life care. Over the course of 10 podcasts I am delighted to talk with Dani Aye season, we will focus on a word a week and challenge commonly held beliefs. Why? Because words matter - you will hear the impact of myths around words and we’ll share valuable resource.

In episode four we talk about  what we mean by treatment, withdrawal and care. 

Listen in and share the conversations.

Key messages

• The episode focuses on clarifying terminology around Advance Care Planning, particularly the words "treatment", "withdrawal", "care", and "active treatment".

• The importance and emotional impact of language in palliative, end of life care, and communicating with patients and families is discussed.

• Misconceptions about palliative and end of life care being passive, rather than an active, person-centred approach, are addressed.

• Dani & I  stress the need to reframe language from "stopping treatment" to "refocusing treatment" or "actively managing symptoms".

• The term "withdrawal of care" is challenged as misleading.

• Clinical examples and lived experiences highlight the risks of ambiguous language in diminishing patient and family trust.

• We share valuable resources and references throughout the episode.

• Dani & I conclude that language matters deeply: words used affect how people feel, and care continues beyond life to support families.

Resource

• GMC Guide: Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision making

• Podcast: When doing nothing is doing everything with Dr Erica Borgstrom 

• Podcast: Stopping chemotherapy: Treatment, hope and time with Louisa Nicoll, wife of John 

• Video: Not intervening as a form of care 

Bio

Dani Ayre

Dani is Matron and Lead Nurse for Palliative Care currently working at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. She has over 15 years’ experience in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PEoLC). She previously worked in Gibraltar for over 8 years, implementing and leading a Hospice Outreach Service for the community of Gibraltar. She has also worked in the community in Palliative care and Long Term conditions and briefly in the acute sector. 

Dani has furthered her knowledge throughout her career by achieving a Distinction in her PG Certificate at Masters level in Palliative Medicine and completed 2 further Masters modules in leadership and education in Palliative care. She is passionate about raising awareness and educating on Palliative care and the importance of Advance care Planning  not only to Health care professionals and the general public.

Clare Fuller

Clare is a Registered General Nurse and has focused her career in Palliative and End of Life Care (EoLC) working clinically in hospices, providing clinical support and education in the acute setting and nationally to deliver the Gold Standards Framework Acute and Primary Care programme. Clare holds an MSc in Specialist and Advanced Health Care and in 2025 was proud to be part of the Parliamentary Palliative and End of Life Care Commission.

Clare has worked strategically in a CCG focusing on delivering the Workforce element of the General Practice Forward View and as a CQC End of Life Care Specialist Advisor.

In 2019 Clare founded Speak For Me which provides Advance Care Planning Education, Lasting Power of Attorney Consultation and support for people facing a life changing illness. Clare advocates for proactive Advance Care Planning and is host of the podcast Conversations About Advance Care Planning.