This book's striking message is that palliative care does not deliver on its aims of valuing people who are dying, and making death and dying a part of natural life. The author argues for the de-institutionalization of palliative care and the development of an alternative framework to the institutional approaches found in hospices, palliative care units, and community-based palliative care services. Using the theory of Social Role Valorization, the book investigates the way in which palliative care perpetuates the social devaluation of people who are dying. It recommends a series of pivotal changes in the approach of palliative care workers. Rethinking Palliative Care provides an original and extensive critique, and challenges the received wisdom about the hospice movement which is a topic of worldwide interest.