The last taboo?
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The last taboo?
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Every now and then folk see various subjects such as open discussions about dying as being the "last taboo". I just wonder if we have even begun to consider some other topics. I am at times surp
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Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » The last taboo?
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The last taboo?
posted at 27/10/2012 7:15 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 174
First: 13/10/2009 Last: 18/5/2013 |
Every now and then folk see various subjects such as open discussions about dying as being the "last taboo". I just wonder if we have even begun to consider some other topics. I am at times surprised by how readily folk assume that families act in what they see as the best interests of relatives. This was brought home to me some years ago when I was asked by the next of kin to prolong existence to ensure the dying relative suffered even more. Frequently I was apalled by just how much useless treatment or investigation relatives would want a dying relative to undergo. Of course one could argue that the relatives could not cope with being separated from the dying person or felt that pushing for treatment was a way of showiing love. But if one accepts (I am not sure that I do) that 10% of folk have been abused by their families when young , it would not be unreasonable to see at least 1/2 of these wanting some form of revenge later in life. Recently there has been criticism of the Liverpool Care Pathway for those who are dying , it being seen as some form of death list - quite apart from religious objections to anything less than the maximal prolongation of existence. Perhaps what some of these families really want is the withdrawal of optimal palliative care.? Our responsibility must be for the patient , but the real outside pressures are to appease the families who will be around to complain once the patient has died ? |
Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » The last taboo?
