Palliative medicine is the study and management of patients with active, progressive, far-advanced disease for whom the prognosis is limited and the focus of care is the quality of life.

This definition is for the specialty practiced by doctors.
When describing the care offered by a team of doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, clergy, and volunteers, it is more correct to refer to palliative care.

Doyle D, Hanks G and MacDonald D. Oxford textbook of palliative medicine. 2nd ed. Oxford. Oxford University Press. 2003. pp. 3-8.