Letters
Challenge of talking about death
The limits of palliative care
BMJ 2014; 349 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g4285 (Published 01 July 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;349:g4285
- Graham Winyard, former deputy chief medical officer1,
- Liza Macdonald, retired consultant radiotherapist2
- 1Winchester SO23 9TE, UK
- 2London W1G 6QS, UK
- grahamwinyard{at}gmail.com
Patients wanting the sort of open discussion about their impending death that Boyd and Murray advocate will have one topic denied them; taking their own life should palliative care prove ineffective.1 This option is important because the medical literature demonstrates clearly the limits of even the best palliative care.2 The medical and religious establishments accept this but contend that the suffering of a small number of individuals is a necessary price …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.