Good Death Concept Essay -- Health, Hospice Places, Alleviating Pain

This essay will consider some of the qualities inherent in the concept of a ‘good death’. In particular focussing on those qualities that may impact on whether a death is considered timely or untimely, and how timeliness might contribute overall to the ‘good death’ concept. There does not appear to be a single definition of what might constitute a ‘good death’ or indeed a consensus that it is achievable at all. Throughout history there appears to have been ideas about death. Clues to which are found in burial sites and ancient texts amongst others (K260, Block 1, Unit 2, pp 33-42). A widely used adage that to die ‘in old age peacefully in one’s sleep’ hints that a ‘good death’ is one that occurs in context, in this case in one’s own bed, and furthermore, that it is timely, in the sense that it occurs after a long life. There is some agreement on the characteristics that might constitute a timely or ‘good death’. That death is somewhat predictable, to allow planning and saying goodbye to loved ones, is free of pain and distress, and occurs after having fulfilled potential for a good life, also that death is not unnecessarily prolonged (K260 DVD, A001 & A002,). Often it is not only the person who is dying that is affected by the end of life experience. There may be involvement from medical professionals, carer’s and of course family and loved ones. These people may have a different perspective on the end of life experience, and therefore, different expectations and needs that inform their views on what constitutes a good death. In a study by Costello (2006) on hospital nurse’s views of what made death good, predictability, to allow some control over the event, so as to minimise disruption, both emotional and physica... ...a sense of relationship with those present, a connection with the place of death, and of having reached an expected age, or life-stage. Age then seems closely related to timeliness. Yet the relationship is complicated by cultural issues, the dominance of the medical perspective, incongruences in religious beliefs and society’s expectations on how the course of life ought to run. In achieving a good death some people’s wishes may be contrary to society’s expectations. Some could receive medical interventions that they do not wish, such as the antibiotic regime Forster (2009) describes her father receiving, and yet others’ may not receive the treatment that they, or their loved ones, would like them to (Piece 43, Earle et al, pp 90 – 94). A ‘good death’ then could be seen as one that occurs in context, and that is timely, on an individual and/or societal level.