MSF's Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices (UREPH) is pleased to announce the publication of the article “Palliative Care in Humanitarian Crises” by James Smith and Tammam Aloudat on the blog of the Humanitarian Health Ethics research group.

Medical humanitarian organisations don’t generally deal well with death. This may come as a surprise, since it’s a sombre reality of this line of work that frontline staff are often witness to death and dying. Contrary to the humanitarian’s general propensity for self-aggrandizement, it’s not always possible to save lives. So what then of the oft-cited dual imperative to alleviate suffering and preserve dignity?