If you're a GP or frontline clinician who wants a calm, practical update on palliative care without wading through a textbook, this episode is a high-yield listen. Through four realistic cases (breathlessness and panic, malignant bowel obstruction in aged care, cancer pain and nausea in a younger patient, and comfort care with renal/liver failure), Dr Susie Muir breaks down what to do first, what to avoid, when to switch routes (subcut matters), and how to titrate core symptom meds safely—while keeping goals of care at the centre. You'll come away with a clearer mental checklist, confidence to start sensible first-line measures, and a better sense of when to pick up the phone to palliative care early rather than late.

Past episode #47 End of Life and Palliative Care with Dr Louise Welch and Dr Sam Manger available on all podcast apps and here.

Clinical & palliative care resources

• PallConsult (Queensland Health) Statewide specialist palliative care advice service with practical clinical resources for health professionals https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/referrals/statewide-specialist-services/pallconsult
• PallConsult resources page Includes practical guides such as caring@home medication packs and end-of-life care resources https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/referrals/statewide-specialist-services/pallconsult/pallconsult-resources
• Faculty of Pain Medicine (ANZCA) – Opioid Calculator Useful for opioid conversions and dose checking (always double-check calculations) https://www.anzca.edu.au/safety-and-advocacy/opioid-calculator
• Pocketbook of Palliative Medicine (app) A concise, clinician-friendly reference for symptom management in palliative care https://apps.apple.com/au/app/palliative-medicine-pocketbook/id1204749954

Practical patient & family support

• Gather My Crew A free app that helps patients and families coordinate practical support (school runs, meals, errands) without having to repeatedly ask for help https://www.gathermycrew.org.au/ End-of-life support page: https://www.gathermycrew.org.au/are-you-caring-for-someone-at-the-end-of-life/

High performance & wellbeing for healthcare professionals

• Dr Susie Muir – website Information about upcoming workshops and the "High Performance Reset" for healthcare professionals https://drsusiemuir.com/
• Follow Dr Susie Muir

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsusiemuir/
• LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/dr-susie-muir-709916133

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Study and learn lifestyle medicine: Interested in whole of person clinical practice, research and careers that address the lifestyle and social determinants of illness and wellbeing, using lifestyle approaches, behaviour change, health coaching and implementation science? Check out the JCU College of Medicine postgraduate degrees: Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master in lifestyle medicine.

Dr Sam Manger on YouTube: Using lifestyle as medicine: A new era in chronic disease remission and YouTube: Careers in lifestyle medicine