Palliative Care Victoria recently launched a new suite of What is palliative care? flyers in multiple languages. As part of PCV’s usual process, the translated flyers were tested with members of the relevant communities to ensure the language was accurate, easy to understand and reflected the needs and cultural context of the people they are intended to support.
Listening to the Chinese-speaking community
During consultation with members of the Chinese-speaking community, an important issue emerged around the translation of the term palliative care. Community members raised concerns that the Chinese terminology commonly used in international health resources could carry unintended negative connotations, potentially creating barriers to understanding and accepting palliative care.
To better understand these concerns, Palliative Care Victoria sought advice from Dr Chien-che Lin, a Melbourne-based Palliative Medicine Specialist and General Practitioner, and Ms Dorothy Yiu, Head of the Chinese Cancer & Chronic Illness Society of Victoria.
Both advised that the Chinese term currently used by the World Health Organization (WHO), 姑息治疗, is often understood within Chinese-speaking communities as meaning “to do nothing” or “to give up treatment”. This interpretation is fundamentally at odds with the purpose of palliative care, which focuses on relieving suffering, improving quality of life and providing active, holistic support for people living with serious illness.
Dr Lin also highlighted that translators frequently rely on WHO terminology when preparing health information, making it difficult for organisations to use alternative language that may be more accessible and culturally appropriate for their communities.
Taking the issue to the WHO
Seeing an opportunity to address these concerns, Dr Lin contacted the WHO to understand how its Chinese translation had been developed and to advocate for terminology that better reflects the meaning and purpose of palliative care.
Drawing on his own experience as a doctor caring for Chinese-speaking patients and families, Dr Lin explained that the existing terminology can add to the barriers they face in understanding and accessing palliative care. He also asked whether alternative terminology could be considered, given changes in professional practice and the way the term is understood within Chinese-speaking communities.
The WHO responded positively, acknowledging both the feedback and the importance of input from clinicians working directly in palliative care.
The organisation explained that 姑息治疗 had historically been used as the accepted Chinese translation because it was based on authoritative English–Chinese medical dictionaries and the United Nations multilingual terminology database (UNTERM).
Importantly, however, the WHO also recognised that the understanding and translation of palliative care have evolved considerably in recent years.
A change in terminology
The WHO highlighted China's 2023 Common Clinical Medical Terms, which recommends 缓和医疗 for palliative care and 安宁疗护 for hospice care. It also noted the 2025 Chinese Expert Consensus on the Definitions of Palliative Care and Hospice Care, which establishes a professional consensus around the use of these terms.
In light of these developments, the WHO confirmed that it will adopt 缓和医疗 as its preferred Chinese translation for palliative care and 安宁疗护 for hospice care in all future Chinese-language materials.
The WHO also advised that it will update the Chinese-language Palliative Care factsheet on its website and revise the corresponding terminology in the United Nations multilingual terminology database (UNTERM).
Previously published WHO documents will remain unchanged, reflecting the terminology that was accepted at the time of publication. However, future WHO Chinese-language publications will use the updated terminology.
From local consultation to global impact
This outcome is a significant milestone and a powerful example of the value of meaningful community engagement.
What began as a consultation process to ensure Palliative Care Victoria's multilingual resources were culturally appropriate has contributed to a change that will influence how palliative care is described in future WHO Chinese-language resources around the world.
The experience also reinforces an important lesson: effective translation is about more than linguistic accuracy. Health information must communicate its intended meaning clearly and respectfully, while taking account of cultural context and the lived experiences of the communities who use it.
By listening to and working in partnership with community members, clinicians and cultural leaders, we can identify language that may unintentionally create barriers, strengthen the quality of health information and support more equitable access to palliative care.
Palliative Care Victoria wishes to thank Dr Chien-che Lin, Ms Dorothy Yiu and translators from the Chinese-speaking community for their expertise, advocacy and willingness to share their insights throughout this process.
Their contributions have not only strengthened Palliative Care Victoria's multilingual resources, but have also helped influence the language used by one of the world's leading health organisations, an outcome with the potential to benefit Chinese-speaking communities in Australia and internationally.
Form more information contact Tonina Gucciardo-Masci, Community Engagement Manager - tgmasci@pallcarevic.asn.au