IN
HIS letter to the Corinthians, Paul paints a picture of spiritual
healing at the end of life.Healing at the end of life
By PATRICK KEE
IN
HIS letter to the Corinthians, Paul paints a picture of spiritual
healing at the end of life.
This is an important concept because end of life care is becoming
an increasingly important concern in our society as modern medical
interventions paradoxically prolong the process of dying as doctors
fight the battle against death. This is in a part a symptom of
the denial of death in modern society.
We need to face the reality of death for the truth is that if
we want to really live we must be ready to die. The meaning of
life and the key to our growth lies in coming to terms with our
mortality.
The Advance Medical Directive
The cost of dying is also increasing and the Advance Medical
Directive (AMD) was introduced some years ago in an attempt to
help reduce futile, unnecessary and costly medical interventions
in the dying.
Unfortunately, there are many limitations to the AMD which the
public may not be aware of. The current AMD only applies when
the patient is certified by three doctors that he or she is dying.
This raises the question as to why we need a directive for doctors
not to institute futile medical interventions in the dying.
One important cause for much of the suffering at the end of life
is the inability of many families, patients and doctors to come
to terms with death and dying.
Another cause of much anguish at the end of life is the lack of
understanding of the expectations and hopes of the patients and
their families in the midst of the emotional turmoil at the end
of life. It is therefore important for patients, families and
their medical care givers to have an open discussion with regard
to the care at the end of life before the event.
Doctors also need to recognise that death is not an enemy but
our teacher to teach us to number our days so that we may learn
to live with wisdom. The public has to be well informed about
the limitations of medical interventions. The medical profession
also has a responsibility to define clearly what are futile and
unnecessary medical treatment in a patient who is dying.
Euthanasia
The greatest moral dilemma is that calls for more control at
the end of life can easily lead to demands for the right to have
euthanasia. It is crucial to recognise that euthanasia seeks to
relieve suffering by hastening death. The danger of euthanasia
is that it is the slippery road towards an inhumane society in
which the handicapped, chronic sick and frail elderly may be seen
as a burden to society and should be disposed of as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, modern medicine is too focused on the physical
dimension of life and doctors are too preoccupied with physical
cure and tend to ignore the emotional and spiritual needs of their
patients. When healing is seen only from the perspective of curing
a physical illness, it is not possible to recognise that there
can be healing at the end of life. Hence, proponents of euthanasia
are unable to recognise the possibility of healing at the end
of life.
However, there are other dimensions of healing that we need to
be aware of such as the healing of our emotions as well as our
relationship with God.
Hospice Care
What is therefore urgently needed is a greater awareness of
hospice care which will provide holistic, compassionate and loving
care to the terminally ill.
It is therefore important to promote the principles of hospice
care in our hospitals and nursing homes and to encourage Advance
Care Planning rather than the Advance Medical Directive.
One misconception of hospice care is that it is only for those
who are dying. While it is true that hospice care is a way of
caring for the terminally ill, the focus is on helping them to
live fully in the face of death. Hospice care does not seek to
hasten or prolong the dying process.
A key principle of hospice care is the need to come to terms with
death.
It is time to recognise that we can seek healing at the end of
life. While we should always be open to the possibility of a miracle
healing of the physical illness, it is also important to understand
that healing may be experienced in the emotional, psychological
and spiritual dimensions of life. In fact we need to recognise
that the most important miracle is to be alive.
Dr Patrick Kee, a member of Covenant Community Methodist Church, is a doctor with the Methodist Hospice Fellowship.