'We need to embrace death': Breaking a big taboo

Senior staff specialist Mark Mather and nurse unit manager Sheree Martin, who work in palliative care at the Calvary Mater Newcastle. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

The hours before death are generally peaceful, but medical care can be vital in the final period of a person's life, palliative care experts say.

The Calvary Mater Newcastle runs the Hunter's largest palliative care service, which works to ease people's pain and suffering.