aVLPM9X1c Palliative Medicine

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/1.3/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. MUDr. Jan Maláska, Ph.D., EDIC (lecturer)
doc. MUDr. Eva Vlčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Kateřina Havlíčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Ladislav Kabelka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Ondřej Sláma, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Štěpán Tuček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Danica Zapletalová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Martin Janků (lecturer)
MUDr. Marek Kučera (lecturer)
MUDr. Lenka Knoppová (lecturer)
MUDr. Lucie Světláková (lecturer)
MUDr. Lenka Šmardová (lecturer)
MUDr. Václav Trmač (lecturer)
MUDr. Petra Vysočanová (lecturer)
MUDr. Dobromila Vrabcová (lecturer)
MUDr. Martina Žižlavská (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. MUDr. Jan Maláska, Ph.D., EDIC
Department of Simulation Medicine – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: doc. MUDr. Jan Maláska, Ph.D., EDIC
Supplier department: Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology – Joint workplaces with the University Hospital Brno - workplaces of the Bohunice and Mater. Hospital – Faculty of Medicine (5,00 %), Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology – Joint workplaces with the University Hospital Brno - workplaces of the Bohunice and Mater. Hospital – Faculty of Medicine (10,00 %), Department of Neurology – Joint workplaces with the University Hospital Brno - workplaces of the Bohunice and Mater. Hospital – Faculty of Medicine (5,00 %), Department of Pediatric Oncology – Institutions shared with the Faculty Hospital Brno (paediatric medicine) – Faculty of Medicine (5,00 %), Department of Paediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine – Institutions shared with the Faculty Hospital Brno (paediatric medicine) – Faculty of Medicine (5,00 %), Department of Simulation Medicine – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine (50,00 %), Comprehensive Cancer Care Department – Institutions shared with the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute – Faculty of Medicine (20,00 %)
Prerequisites (in Czech)
ROCNIK(5)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course Palliative Medicine offers the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge and skills in the care of advanced seriously ill patients (oncological and nononcological). Lectures and seminars will cover the treatment of the most common symptoms, communication rules and psychosocial aspects of care. Participants will learn about the ethical and legal framework for the provision of palliative care in the Czech Republic. The course is concluded with a colloquium.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: - appropriately assess and treat the most common physical and psychological symptoms associated with serious life-threatening illnesses; - Communicate with patients and their families about serious diagnosis, prognosis, goals of care, and plan of care; - Know the ethical and legal framework for medical decision-making and the provision of end-of-life care; -know the organisation of palliative care in the Czech Republic;
Syllabus
  • Basic concepts: palliative care, advanced serious illness, end of life, quality of life, goals of care, care plan, concept of appropriate care, euthanasia
  • Palliative management of the most common symptoms of advanced illness: pain, dyspnoea, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue
  • Palliative management of advanced stages of non-cancer diseases: COPD, CHSS, chronic renal failure, neurodegenerative diseases, geriatric frailty syndrome
  • Psychiatric syndromes in the life span: anxiety, depression, delirium, sleep disorders
  • Psychological and social aspects of palliative care
  • Ethical and legal aspects of palliative care
  • Communication and the patient with a serious illness
  • Palliative care in different settings: hospice, hospital, ARO/ICU, home environment, palliative care organisations in the Czech Republic
Teaching methods
Lecture; workshop;
Assessment methods
Conditions for granting credit for the course Palliative Medicine Attendance at lectures 80% Written: A case report of a seriously ill patient and a reflection on palliative care options (based on personal or clinical experience from internships) OR An essay on one of the following topics 1. what does "quality of life" mean in the situation of advanced terminal illness 2. Can patients be informed openly and truthfully about the adverse prognosis without "taking away hope"? 3. Are palliative care issues given sufficient attention during undergraduate studies at medical school? Length of essay: 1-2 A4 pages
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Předmět je určen studentům 5. ročníku VL.
The course is also listed under the following terms autumn 2025.
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