This is the first of two volumes dedicated to palliative care for patients with non-cancer diseases, to help health professionals, students and society in general, to find strategies to provide better care to these patients. Were invited professionals and researchers of recognized international merit, who have collaborated with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in the training in palliative care of our students.In this first volume, we will address the interventions among patients with progressive neurological disease, AIDS and the critical patient (emergency and intensive care). In the second issue, we will cover palliative care in patients with chronic heart, respiratory and renal disease.