Dealing with death in cancer care: should the oncologist be an amicus mortis?
Carrieri, D; Peccatori, FA; Grassi, L; et al.Boniolo, G
Date: 12 November 2019
Journal
Supportive Care in Cancer
Publisher
Springer
Publisher DOI
Abstract
The way death is (not) dealt with is one of the main determinants of the current crisis of
cancer care. The tendency to avoid discussions about terminal prognoses and to create
unrealistic expectations of fighting death is seriously harming patients, families, healthcare
professionals, and the delivery of high quality and equitable ...
The way death is (not) dealt with is one of the main determinants of the current crisis of
cancer care. The tendency to avoid discussions about terminal prognoses and to create
unrealistic expectations of fighting death is seriously harming patients, families, healthcare
professionals, and the delivery of high quality and equitable care. Drawing on different
literature sources, we explore key dimensions of the taboo of death: medical; policy; cultural.
We suggest that the oncologist, from a certain moment, could take on the role of amicus
mortis, a classical figure in the past times, and thus accompanying patients towards the end of
their life through palliation, and linking them to psychosocial, and ethical/existential
resources. This presupposes the implementation of Supportive Care in Cancer, and the ethical
idea of relational autonomy based on understanding patients’ needs considering their sociocultural contexts. It is also key to encourage public conversations beyond the area of
medicine to re-integrate death into life.
History
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