Palliative Care vs End-of-Life Care Distinction — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ
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Correct answer: B — No — palliative care is a broad, holistic approach that can begin at diagnosis of a life-limiting illness (potentially years before death); end-of-life care refers specifically to care for people likely to be in the last 12 months of life
Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · D = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as D · C = shown as E
The correct answer is D. In the UK, palliative care is a broad multidisciplinary approach aimed at improving quality of life for anyone with a life-limiting illness and can start from the time of diagnosis, regardless of expected prognosis length. End-of-life care is a distinct subset, referring specifically to the care of people who are likely to die within the next 12 months (sometimes more specifically the last days or weeks). Option A is incorrect because 5 years exceeds the definition for end-of-life care. Options B and E are false because palliative care applies to any life-limiting condition, cancer or non-cancer. Option C is incorrect—they are related but not interchangeable; temporal and scope differences are well established in UK guidance.
Reference: NHS England – Palliative and end of life care, https://www.england.nhs.uk/eolc/