BMJ  2003;327:1047 (1 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7422.1047-c

Letter

What is a good death?

Good death will happen if life was good

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

EDITOR—Smith's Editor's Choice should be included in the medical literature that students around the world need to understand.¹ A good doctor cares for a patient's body and soul. Doctors must take into consideration not only contingent questions related to a patient's health condition but also the fundamental questions about the sense and significance of the destiny of human beings.

We have to remember that death is the last of our habits: a good death can be achieved only if a patient, as well as his or her doctor, has spent life in a "good" manner. Where might human beings seek the answer to dramatic questions such as pain, the suffering of the innocent, and death, if not in the light streaming from the mystery of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection?²

Via Erasmo Piaggio 23/8, 16037 Riva Trigoso, Genova, Italy dottsergio@libero.it

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Competing interests: None declared.

1. Smith R. Editor's Choice. Death, come closer. BMJ 2003;327. (26 July.)
2. Pope John Paul II. Encyclical letter fides et ratio to the bishops of the Catholic church on the relationship between faith and reason. 14 September 1998.

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