Politics and palliative care: Guatemala

摘要

Lying in the centre of what was once the Mayan civilisation, Guatemala is the most densely inhabited country in Central America, with a population exceeding 15 million. The history and geography of the country encompasses everything from abandoned indigenous Mayan rainforest cities to baroque Spanish colonial influenced Catholicism and a vibrant developing young economy, following a recent turbulent period of civil war. In addition, the country has one of the highest murder rates in Central America. President Perez Molina, leader of the right-wing Patriotic Party, was elected on the back of a high-profile campaign to bring back public safety with an 'iron fist' approach, befitting perhaps his military background.