Summary: 

People in countries around the world are living longer, presenting health systems with a significant new challenge: caring for more and more people with one—and often several—advanced chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, or heart and lung disease. These illnesses are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world today, accounting for 63.5 percent of all deaths. 

They are also often accompanied by symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, nausea, anxiety, and depression. If not treated properly, these symptoms can destroy the quality of life of both patients and their families. For example, Human Rights Watch has found that people with untreated severe pain often describe their pain in exactly same terms as victims of torture—that is, as so intense that they would do anything to make it stop.

People with untreated severe pain often describe their pain in exactly same terms as victims of torture—that is, as so intense that they would do anything to make it stop.