In search of a good death: Each encounter with a dying patient is a  unique privilege

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7408.224-a

BMJ 2003;327:224 (26 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7408.224-a

Letter

In search of a good death

Each encounter with a dying patient is a unique privilege

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—I think that Rabbi Julia Neuberger may be wrong when she says that nothing can prepare a young doctor, nurse,or rabbi for facing people whose death is imminent.¹ My experienceshows quite the opposite. My work to date has been blessed bythe company of pastoral and clinical carers who are passionateabout the journey towards death and who, together with eloquentand articulate next of kin, have been only too keen to sharetheir wisdom and experiences, both good and bad.

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that each and every encounterwith a dying patient and their family is unique and, howevercompetent we become, we can always learn and—if we areespecially privileged—share.

If young professionals choose to shy away from sharing the journeythen perhaps that says more about the way we are choosing andtraining the newer generations than it does . . . [Full text of this article]

Simon Knowles, pathologist

Somerset Pathology Service, Yeovil District Hospital, Yeovil BA21 4AT knows@est.nhs.uk

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Care of the dying patient: the last hours or days of life • Commentary: a "good death" is possible in the NHS: John Ellershaw, Chris Ward, and Rabbi Julia Neuberger
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