The discursive representation of palliative care in the public sphere in Spain.

Palliative Care (PC) improves the quality of life of patients and families facing a serious illness by alleviating physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering. According to the World Health Organization, half of the world's population will need PC in the coming years and one of the ways to favor its global implementation is to improve the knowledge that society has about them.

Thus, it is useful to explore how PC is talked about in the public sphere, what discursive frameworks are used and what terms reach and permeate society with greater or lesser clarity.

In Spain, after the approval of the euthanasia law, this aspect is particularly relevant. The scientific literature supports that the analysis of speech is a useful tool to detect problems in communication and to favor the adequate transmission of a message in the public sphere. Thus, our study systematically analyzes the presence and representation of PCs in the areas that most influence public opinion: current legislation, discussion parliamentary and media.

Directors of thesis
 

Carlos Centeno
ccenteno@unav.es