Multi-culturalism and MedicineJoint Study day Basildon and Romford GP VTS

4th March 2009 Gilly BurnLead International Palliative Care EducationTriage Clinical nurse SpecialistSaint francis Hospice

“A clear measure of the quality of a society, is the way it treats people approaching the end of their life” Gandhi

Holistic Care

PhysicalPsychological

Social Spiritual

4

PALLIATIVE CARE:World Health Organization Definition

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients

and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of

suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment

of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

• Should it only be in the realm of palliative care that we address spiritual /faith issues?

Total Pain

PALLIUM-a Cloak

“May you be wrapped in tenderness, you my brother, as if in a cloak.”

The Holy Q’ran

Total Pain

Physical Social

Emotional Spiritual

   

“You are important because you are you.We will do everything possible, not only to help you to die peacefully, but to live until the last moment of your life. Dame Cicely Saunders

AAssessment Appropriate Treatment

2nd February 2009, Daily Mail

Persecuted for praying: offering to pray for a sick patient

Disciplined under the equal opportunities and “diversity” policies.

Reader response:“My aunty is in palutive (sic) care in hospital. Her children are agnostics, and yet they were overjoyed when told that a Christian in the family was praying for their mother. It’s amazing to see how hope and comfort was brought to them in their time of need. It’s amazing how many cease to be atheists on the death beds”. KB, Worcs

“Feel, my children, feel; feel for the poor, the ignorant, the downtrodden; feel till the heart stops and the brain reels and you think you will go mad; then pour the soul out at the feet of the Lord, and then will come power, help, and indomitable energy.”

Swami Vivekananda

Debate:

Should we be bringing faith into medicine?

Truth