In search of a good death: Spiritual care is important for a good  death

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7408.224-b

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

Letter

In search of a good death

Spiritual care is important for a good death

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

EDITOR—The 12 principles of a good death were built onin the article by Ellershaw and Ward.¹ I am a hospital chaplain,and religious and spiritual care therefore has a particular resonance.

Although religion and spirituality are important for all patients,they can take on extra importance as death approaches, allowingmembers of the team to broach topics that are often consideredtaboo. Would patients like particular preparations to be madefor their death, perhaps to make peace with their family orMaker? Would they like to discuss funeral arrangements? Do theyhave any dying wish that it is possible to fulfil?

These are delicate issues, and it is encouraging to believethat a time is coming when we diagnose a patient as dying ina hospital as readily as we do in a hospice. Pastoral doorscan be opened and bridges built between the team, the family,. . . [Full text of this article]

Barry A Clark, hospital chaplain

Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham B29 6JD barry.clark@uhb.nhs.uk

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Relevant Article

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
BMJ 2003 326: 30-34. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]