palliator

noun

1. An apologist; one who justifies or excuses atrocities by citing extenuating circumstances or positive aspects.

   “We never have been, are not, and never will be, directly or indirectly, the apologists or palliators of duelling.”

   “He was unquestionably the ablest debater that the British parliament ever produced, but his fame has not, like that of his great opponent, stood the test of time ; and the present generation, removed from the fascination of his fervid eloquence, can scarcely applaud the political penetration of the eulogist of the French Revolution, and the palliator of its atrocious excesses.”

   “The palliator of slavery assures the abolitionists that their benevolence is perfectly quixotic — that the negroes are happy and contented, and have no desire to change their lot.”

2. Someone or something that palliates; A person or thing that soothes or reduces difficulties.

   “The only charm within the hated walls of my prison had ceased to exist ; the galling chain of slavery threatened to crush me — for the soother, the palliator, the dear, dear friend of my bosom no longer felt a participation in my sorrows.”

   “A sense of humour is man's true palliator.”

   “Insofar as home ownership may exacerbate the impact of ageing populations by facilitating lower participation rates for older workers, the same features of home ownership also provide a potential palliator.”

3. A medical professional who provides palliative care.

   “I dislike to be a tinker; a mere palliator and work in line with old women. Years ago I found that patients were on and off the doctor's books indefinitely, and I grew tired of seeing them reappear, and I sought and found a better way to get rid of them.”

   “The worst motivation and professional circumstances for the palliator would be the slowly dawning frustration of a scientifically orientated doctor who realizes the failure of a scientific career.”

   “This is a useful ending exercise where groups of three to six each have a sheet of flip chart paper and a felt tipped pen. They then draw a mythical palliator who, for example, might have big ears for listening, broad shoulders for taking anger, leaning forward with head titlted looking sympathetic...and so on.”

4. A device that allows a patient to control the amount of pain medication that is added into an intravenous drip; infusion pump.

   “A more sophisticated device is the Newcastle interactive palliator, in which a continuous low-dose intravenous infusion is combined with patient-operated demand increment.”

   “While my normal practice is to explain the system to the patient preoperatively, it is not necessary to show the palliator to the patient at this time, and patients can operate PCA satisfactorily where no preoperative instruction has been possible.”

   “Intravenous drugs may be given by drip, syringe pump or in special apparatus such as the Cardiff palliator (Evans et al. 1976).”