- Patient receiving palliative care as defined by French Society of Palliative and Support Care [Charte des Soins Palliatifs, 1996, Act No. 99-477 of 9 June 1999 to guarantee the right of access to palliative care] according to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO) [World Health Organization. WHO's pain ladder. http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/painladder/en/. Accessed December 9.2011]