Good Death

Question 1

When should palliative care be used

Answer 1

• Have a life-threatening progressive incurable disease which is far advanced with a limited prognosis and the focus of care is quality of life
• Where the advent of death is certain and not far off

Question 2

What is needed for instruction on he management of dying patients

Answer 2

A Philosophy of Care is needed
• For instruction on the management of dying patients
• (to facilitate) “to live until they die”
• ‘special care’ required for the dying (of Cancer and non-cancer)

Question 3

Describe holistic care

Answer 3

• “Suffering is experienced by persons, not merely bodies”
• much more than the science of symptom control
• care involves the physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual

Question 4

What makes making a good death difficult

Answer 4

• it is rare for the majority of the public to see a dead body
• dying has been ‘medicalised’ in UK institutions where > 70% of
people die
• transformed from being an accepted everyday occurrence and natural part of the life cycle, into a ‘taboo subject’

Question 5

What are the challenges in communicating with dying patients

Answer 5

• Truthfulness(honest/open)with patients • Enabling informed consent
• Allowing time to prepare
• Avoiding isolation
• Overcoming a wall of silence
• Maintaining hope by accompanying them on the journey