Death and Dying ― A Medical Care and Educational Problem

Abstract

Today most people die in hospitals. There are many anti-human aspects in modern hospital death, causing public controversies regarding dignified death and euthanasia. Physicians seem to be concerned only in the prolongation of life. Endless efforts of resuscitation of dying patients are not unusual. This tendency is no more than the projection of the physician's own fear of death. Traditional medicine can relieve the intractable pain of cancer patients, but provides nothing to alleviate the fear of imminent death. Care of the dying patient has opened a new field in modern medicine. Here the most important task for a physician is to have a mature attitude toward his own mortality. Sensitivity to the needs of patients should not be limited to the terminal stage. It is required always in daily practice. The first step is, as Dr. Kübler Ross said, to listen simply to the patients. Better care for dying patients depends on a reformation of medical education. We must restore humanity into our curriculum. More importance should be attached to the role of the liberal arts. The humanistic attitude of students must be introduced into the evaluation of student records in clinical training. In conclusion, every physician must continue to seek, throughout his life, for his own philosophy regarding life and death.