Today, death is often more complicated. Many people suffer from progressive or chronic, critical illnesses that eventually reach a point when curative approaches are no longer possible. When advanced illnesses become terminal, new treatments, medications, and technologies are now available to provide greater comfort, assist in symptom and pain management, and ease the burden of an illness. Patients now can choose or change the focus of their care from treatment to comfort and elect to receive palliative or hospice services in a growing number of health care settings.