Books for DNB Palliative Medicine.

Standard reference books for DNB Palliative Medicine

These 15 titles are the standard references for Palliative Medicine — the books Indian teaching departments work from and examiners expect answers to be traceable to. Each is shown with the edition in circulation now, so you can print or buy the right one first time.

1. Oxford Textbook of Palliative MedicineNathan I. Cherny, Marie T. Fallon, Stein Kaasa, Russell K. Portenoy and David C. Currow · 6th editionThe principal reference textbook of the specialty, covering the full range of symptom control and end-of-life care.
2. Oxford Handbook of Palliative CareMax Watson, Stephen Ward, Nandini Vallath, Jo Wells and Rachel Campbell · 3rd editionPocket handbook used on the ward for rapid symptom management decisions.
3. Textbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive CareEduardo Bruera, Irene J. Higginson, Charles F. von Gunten and Tatsuya Morita · 3rd editionMajor multi-author reference emphasising supportive care and the evidence base behind it.
4. Textbook of Palliative CareRoderick Duncan MacLeod and Lieve Van den Block · 2nd editionComprehensive Springer reference work covering clinical, psychosocial and public health palliative care.
5. Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive OncologyAnn Berger and Joseph F. O'Neill · 5th editionStandard text for the oncology interface, used for cancer symptom control and supportive care.
6. Palliative Care Formulary (PCF9)Andrew Wilcock, Paul Howard, Clare Stark Toller, Joanne Droney and Sarah Charlesworth · 9th editionThe prescribing reference for palliative drugs, doses, interactions and off-label use.
7. Introducing Palliative CareRobert Twycross and Andrew Wilcock · 5th editionConcise foundational text used early in training to establish core principles.
8. Handbook of Palliative CareRichard Kitchen, Christina Faull, Sarah Russell and Jo Wilson · 4th editionMulti-professional handbook covering both malignant and non-malignant palliative care.
9. Palliative Medicine: A Case-Based ManualSusan MacDonald, Leonie Herx and Anne Boyle · 4th editionCase-based manual used for teaching clinical reasoning in palliative consultations.
10. Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical CompetenciesLinda L. Emanuel and S. Lawrence Librach · 2nd editionCompetency-oriented text covering communication, ethics and the practical skills of the specialty.
11. Oxford Textbook of Communication in Oncology and Palliative CareDavid W. Kissane, Barry D. Bultz, Phyllis N. Butow, Carma L. Bylund, Simon Noble and Susie Wilkinson · 2nd editionReference for breaking bad news, family meetings and difficult conversations.
12. An Indian Primer of Palliative CareM. R. Rajagopal (Editor), Pallium IndiaIndia-specific primer written for Indian clinicians, covering the NDPS opioid framework and low-resource practice.
13. A Comprehensive Handbook of Cancer Pain Management in Developing CountriesSushma Bhatnagar (Editor), IASP PressCancer pain reference written for low-resource settings including India.
14. Bonica's Management of PainJane C. Ballantyne, Scott M. Fishman and James P. Rathmell · 5th editionThe major pain medicine reference used for interventional and complex pain problems.
15. WHO Guidelines for the Pharmacological and Radiotherapeutic Management of Cancer Pain in Adults and AdolescentsWorld Health OrganizationThe reference standard for opioid prescribing and cancer pain ladder practice.

What to read, and when

Three years is less time than it sounds. The order below is what works for most DNB Palliative Medicine residents — broad and readable first, reference-level later, revision and drilling last.

DNB Palliative Medicine books — questions