TY - JOUR
T1 - Dealing with death in cancer care
T2 - should the oncologist be an amicus mortis?
AU - Carrieri, D.
AU - Peccatori, F. A.
AU - Grassi, L.
AU - Boniolo, G.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - The way death is (not) dealt with is one of the main determinants of the current crisis of cancer care. The tendency to avoid discussions about terminal prognoses and to create unrealistic expectations of fighting death is seriously harming patients, families and healthcare professionals, and the delivery of high-quality and equitable care. Drawing on different literature sources, we explore key dimensions of the taboo of death: medical, policy, cultural. We suggest that the oncologist, from a certain moment, could take on the role of amicus mortis, a classical figure in the past times, and thus accompanying patients towards the end of their life through palliation and linking them to psychosocial and ethical/existential resources. This presupposes the implementation of Supportive Care in Cancer and the ethical idea of relational autonomy based on understanding patients’ needs considering their sociocultural contexts. It is also key to encourage public conversations beyond the area of medicine to re-integrate death into life.
AB - The way death is (not) dealt with is one of the main determinants of the current crisis of cancer care. The tendency to avoid discussions about terminal prognoses and to create unrealistic expectations of fighting death is seriously harming patients, families and healthcare professionals, and the delivery of high-quality and equitable care. Drawing on different literature sources, we explore key dimensions of the taboo of death: medical, policy, cultural. We suggest that the oncologist, from a certain moment, could take on the role of amicus mortis, a classical figure in the past times, and thus accompanying patients towards the end of their life through palliation and linking them to psychosocial and ethical/existential resources. This presupposes the implementation of Supportive Care in Cancer and the ethical idea of relational autonomy based on understanding patients’ needs considering their sociocultural contexts. It is also key to encourage public conversations beyond the area of medicine to re-integrate death into life.
KW - Amicus mortis
KW - Death
KW - End of life care
KW - Ethics
KW - Psycho-oncology
KW - Relational autonomy
KW - Supportive Care in Cancer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075131030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85075131030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-019-05137-w
DO - 10.1007/s00520-019-05137-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 31712952
AN - SCOPUS:85075131030
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
SN - 0941-4355
ER -