The challenges for women in palliative care

The challenges for women in palliative care

From The Conversation by BBC World Service

June 1, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges women face in palliative care and how to approach conversations about death and dying.

Confronting the death of a loved one – or the end of our own life – can be frightening and overwhelming. And yet it is something that will happen to all of us. So how can we open up conversations about the way we want to die? Is it possible to avoid pain and suffering? And who are the people who will care for us in our final moments? Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women who work in palliative care. Dr Tania Pastrana is from Colombia and is now based in Germany where she works for the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC). And Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders is a general practitioner, and national lead in palliative care for the Royal College of GPs. Producer: Hannah Sander

People in this episode

Host: Datshiane Navanayagam

Guests: Dr Tania Pastrana, Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders

Topics covered

  • palliative care
  • end of life
  • women in healthcare
  • death and dying
  • pain management

Keywords

  • palliative care
  • women in healthcare
  • end of life care
  • death
  • pain management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, Royal College of GPs

Places: Colombia, Germany

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