The nature of suffering and the nature of opportunity at the end of life

Clin Geriatr Med. 1996 May;12(2):237-52.

Abstract

Encountering a patient who is suffering in the midst of terminal illness is an all-too-common occurrence for clinicians who care for the elderly. This article explores the personal experience of suffering in the context of life-limiting illness. The concept of personhood is used to illuminate the nature of suffering. Clinical observation documents that some persons experience a subjectively heightened sense of well-being as they die. The concept of personhood and the model of life-long human development is applied to the explication of this apparent paradox, enabling an understanding of the nature of opportunity at the end of life.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attitude to Death
  • Female
  • Hospice Care / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological
  • Philosophy
  • Religion and Medicine