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Dying well: Witnessing death enhances the lives of palliative care workers
The Calgary Herald ^ | 12/12/10 | The Calgary Herald

Posted on 12/14/2010 4:37:27 PM PST by wagglebee

The idea of dying is a source of discomfort for many, but as a new study proves, death instils in its witnesses a healing wisdom which defies our habitual attempts to deny or control it.

University of Calgary researcher Shane Sinclair completed a cross-country study on the impact of death on palliative care workers and the results, recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, prove how wrongheaded society's ingrained thinking about end-of-life issues remains.

Sinclair's study is based on interviews with palliative care staff from doctors and nurses to janitors and volunteers in five major Canadian cities, including Calgary.

Overwhelmingly, workers revealed that constant exposure to dying patients allowed them to see meaningful truths which vastly enhanced their own lives.

Participants spoke of learning to live in the now and of having their minds opened to the unfathomable mysteries of existence. Many felt that being forced to confront their own mortality through their patients made them better people and more effective, compassionate caregivers. While this exposure did not relieve their own fears of death, it did teach staffers about the important things in life and how to value them.

Philosophers have known for millenniums that the frenetic concerns of this world shrivel before the unchanging face of eternity but practical experience obviously drives this home better than any treatise.

One truth which was not mentioned in Sinclair's study can easily be drawn from its findings -- how euthanasia devalues human life and the enriching experiences which form so vital a part of it.

There are no lack of proponents arguing that medically assisted suicide ought to be legalized, even though helping someone to plan their own death amounts, no matter how you spin it, to premeditated murder.

People should spend their final days with their loved ones in a safe, comforting palliative environment with dedicated medical professionals present to make sure patients near death die in a manner as pain-free and dignified as possible, when their time has come.

To do otherwise, to enable the terminally ill or weary to take their own lives with professional help is to shift the focus at the end of life purely to the grief and anguish we already associate with death.

Euthanasia robs everyone -- both the living and the dying -- of the wisdom and positive, life-affirming experiences so richly attested to in Sinclair's study.

Death is not something to be actively embraced or sought out, but this doesn't mean the subject should be shunned the way it often is.

The dying have invaluable gifts to offer the living, as the living who spend time with the dying know well.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: euthanasia; moralabsolutes; palliative; palliativecare; prolife
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Euthanasia robs everyone -- both the living and the dying -- of the wisdom and positive, life-affirming experiences so richly attested to in Sinclair's study.

Perfectly stated.

1 posted on 12/14/2010 4:37:36 PM PST by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; Salvation; 8mmMauser
Pro-Life Ping
2 posted on 12/14/2010 4:38:12 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 185JHP; 230FMJ; AKA Elena; Albion Wilde; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; Amos the Prophet; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


3 posted on 12/14/2010 4:38:45 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

It is a very great honor to be invited to assist the dying. Our patients think we know what dying is, but we just have experience with dying as a process, but not death itself.


4 posted on 12/14/2010 4:44:58 PM PST by HospiceNurse (Draft O'Donnell 4 President)
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To: wagglebee
Overwhelmingly, workers revealed that constant exposure to dying patients allowed them to see meaningful truths which vastly enhanced their own lives"

As an RN, I am constantly bombarded with images of death and dying and suffering. Here are the meaningful truths that I have discovered:, one way or the other, we're all going to die eventually. I have also learned that seat belts and motorcycle helmets are very good ideas and smoking and getting into barfights are very bad ideas. Finally, if you're lucky, it will be fast. If you're unlucky, you'll lay in a bed for years with tubes stuck in your throat, stomach, urethra, and anus gorkerd out of your mind on ativan and percocets, eaten away by decubitus ulcers, missing your legs from the diabetic ulcers, wishing you had died 20 years ago; in other words, in hell.

5 posted on 12/14/2010 4:52:25 PM PST by RC one (WHAT!!!!)
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To: wagglebee
People should spend their final days with their loved ones in a safe, comforting palliative environment with dedicated medical professionals present to make sure patients near death die in a manner as pain-free and dignified as possible, when their time has come.

To do otherwise, to enable the terminally ill or weary to take their own lives with professional help is to shift the focus at the end of life purely to the grief and anguish we already associate with death.

Euthanasia robs everyone -- both the living and the dying -- of the wisdom and positive, life-affirming experiences so richly attested to in Sinclair's study.

Taking care of someone who is dying takes you beyond yourself. It's hard to describe that to anyone who hasn't experienced it. It's something that stays with you.

I can recall specific people from over 25 years ago, some who may have never known that I was there- but I knew, and knew that providing them with a bit of physical comfort might be all that could be done, but it was important to do that little bit, maybe as much for myself as for that person.

6 posted on 12/14/2010 4:54:02 PM PST by susannah59
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To: wagglebee

When your number is up...It’s up.


7 posted on 12/14/2010 4:54:18 PM PST by screaminsunshine (Americanism vs Communism)
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To: wagglebee

Everyone needs to realize that the REAL reason the leftist vermin promote legalized euthanasia is to save money for themselves. They don’t want these “sick people” sucking up the resources of the socialist utopia that their happy young selves are entitled to enjoy.

The terminally ill who desire euthanasia have also been convinced by the same rhetoric in one way or another. When your snot-nosed leftist neighbors call you a burden often enough, there is a good chance you’ll start to believe it.


8 posted on 12/14/2010 4:56:08 PM PST by Soothesayer (smallpox is not a person)
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To: wagglebee

I don’t agree with euthanasia but have been at the end of watching a family member die several times. It isn’t pretty and I really didn’t get a warm, fuzzy feeling. With the four family members that I sat with, none got relief from the medication (different cancers). In short, there is no easy death that I have personally seen. That being said, I am glad that I could have helped them by simply sitting with them, reading scripture and holding their hand. The stain of death is not something you easily wash off. Just a thought.


9 posted on 12/14/2010 4:59:29 PM PST by momtothree
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To: RC one

Sounds as though you have done at least one ER rotation.


10 posted on 12/14/2010 5:01:13 PM PST by verity
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To: wagglebee

Thank you for the article.


11 posted on 12/14/2010 5:03:56 PM PST by Vendome
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To: susannah59

I am there now. Taking care of a good friend who is 100 years and 5 months old, who is transitioning to her next life.

Can’t describe it and the only people I have been to discuss it have also done or are doing what I am doing.

I can say it is real blessing to help another person and take care of their every need and anticipate their every want.

Can’t really organize it in a way that makes sense except to those who do this for their relatives or even as a job.


12 posted on 12/14/2010 5:09:23 PM PST by Vendome
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To: verity

I have but I do the LTAC thing mostly now. LTAC is actually pretty interesting but I prefer the ER. Palliative/hospice care would be last choice for a job. I’m glad there are people mentally/spiritually geared for it but I’m not.


13 posted on 12/14/2010 5:17:24 PM PST by RC one (WHAT!!!!)
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To: wagglebee
I was alone with my Mom when she passed. The nurse and doctor called me in to the room and I was able to say good bye.
Since that moment I have lost all fear of death.
14 posted on 12/14/2010 5:26:50 PM PST by BigCinBigD (Northern flags in South winds flutter...)
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To: wagglebee

My father in law died at home with all of us around him.

It was as good a death as one could hope for.


15 posted on 12/14/2010 5:53:28 PM PST by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: wagglebee

My thoughts:
I’ve been a nurse for 13 years. 6 of those were in a critical care setting where people died almost every shift. I got use to it. I’d turn the TV on, detach, whatever. Now, I’m an anesthetist so I don’t see patients die often. When I do, it’s often very dramatic as OR deaths are everything made-for-TV.

Two years ago, my grandma died. She had been ill for a long time. When I got the call that her death was near, my Catholic boss (who I love) told me to ask Jesus for the privilege of being with Grandma when she died. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that but I prayed for it nonetheless. And He granted it. I saw her respirations slowing down & becoming agonal. I climbed into bed and cuddled her, like she did me when I was a child. It was truly a blessing to hold her & whisper in her ear while she drew her last breath. I realized after that what an honor it was for me to witness so many peoples’ passings throughout my career. I was just too immature to know it at the time. I pray for all those souls. I can’t remember each one, but still, they were my fellow humans & they’re special to me. I hope I comforted them in some way.


16 posted on 12/14/2010 6:00:24 PM PST by surroundedbyblue
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To: BigCinBigD

one year ago today, my mom passed away at her home. she was surrounded by her family, me, my dad, my brothers and my aunt were all touching her when her heart stopped beating. it was not a healing experience for any of us. it just was pain and more pain.


17 posted on 12/14/2010 6:14:54 PM PST by madamemayhem (defeat is not getting knocked down, it is not getting back up.)
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To: madamemayhem
"one year ago today, my mom passed away at her home. she was surrounded by her family, me, my dad, my brothers and my aunt were all touching her when her heart stopped beating. it was not a healing experience for any of us. it just was pain and more pain."

I understand. My father was haunted by his mother's death. She died a painful death, and it was nearly unbearable for him. Dad died a few hours after we left his side. We thought he was getting better. He knew otherwise, and I'm convinced he wanted to spare us the torment. He died knowing how much he was loved, and we knew how much he loved us.

18 posted on 12/14/2010 6:49:54 PM PST by Jaidyn
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To: RC one

Working in nursing homes and on terminal wards didn’t seem to enhance the lives of friends of mine through the years.

Thank you for the work you do.


19 posted on 12/14/2010 7:12:47 PM PST by kallisti ("Think what you want. You're the one that has to live with your thoughts.")
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To: susannah59

My mother died peacefully at home July 9 and I was glad I was there...even if she didn’t know it...as far as I know.


20 posted on 12/14/2010 7:33:06 PM PST by lonestar
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