… not necessarily more and more drugs. Micco et. al. offer a reflection on the fundamental goals of hospice palliative care, reminding us that ” … when a suffering-less death becomes the medical summum bonum, morphine and other drugs become our sacraments.” Rather ” … [t]he original intent of the hospice movement was to provide […]
supportive presence of hospice … Read More »
A great introduction to Grieg’s grief … click the “Classical Music” category to see more.
We often best serve others through our own vulnerability, by opening up our own humanity (not by hiding behind roles) … Maria tells of how she healed a young boy through her own woundedness …
… GeriPal has a great thread going in answer to the question “If you have to share ONE TIP with your fellow Geriatricians and Gerontologists about palliative care of older adults, what would it be?” Many years ago, a wise physician counseled me … “In every clinical encounter, always sit down and always touch the
care for older adults … Read More »
… a local blogger has put together a stunning visual tour of the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother located at Via Christi – St. Francis, including a view of the chapel from Hynes Memorial Hospice Inpatient Center.
Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother … Read More »
… an article in the Irish Times includes a practical discussion of sedation in the seriously ill and dying. The article refers to these draft guidelines.
Tolstoy, a good death and the Irish Times … Read More »
… EPERC has a great series of articles on how to conduct family meetings which we discussed at Hospice Palliative Medicine Journal Club this morning.
family conferences … Read More »
An elegant study shows that … “One always meets another person at the same level one seeks to know them.” (Christian de Cherge)
gentle hand feeding or tube feeding … in the nursing home? Read More »
… a Minnesota sociologist writes about disabilism – discrimination against disability. Specifically, she discusses a study of quality of life perceptions and medical decision making. The way we ask a question usually says more about us than any answers we might propose. A friend of mine with a disability often writes about these issues.
Damien de Veuster accompanied the lepers of Molokai (Hawaii) in the 19th century. Much of what he did we would today call hospice and palliative care. Many books have been written about him and several movies describe his life. Robert Louis Stevenson defended him. His Memorial is celebrated today. After nearly two decades caring for
a presence among the lepers … Damien de Veuster … Read More »
