I think when the general public thinks of palliative care, they think of the elderly who are dying from illnesses related to age. There is a reluctance to even consider that children, not to mention babies, could be living with a life-threatening illness. It almost feels unnatural and wrong to consider such a reality. It is not something we commonly hear about and I do believe that there is a general lack of awareness and perhaps an intentional ignorance due to the potential spiritual or moral conflicts it might stir in one.
I think it is important to consider that people are generally more interested in learning about something when it is relevant to them. For example, parents would be more interested in learning about paediatric palliative care than for example, young adults without children. Perhaps a greater focus should be placed on creating awareness in environments and communities where the audience is more applicable? Perhaps more awareness in children’s hospital waiting areas, baby clinics, school, doctors offices, daycare facilities etc.
