Your article, “In search of a ‘good death’ at home” (The Nation, June 3, 2018) was timely.
Educating most people, not just in Thailand, about the ethical and economic “benefits” of palliative care should be a priority.
Prolonging the life of a terminally ill person robs them of their dignity and affects not just their quality of life but also that of their loved ones.
The Hippocratic Oath aside, doctors are trained to save lives and so are ill-equipped to “help people to die”. In these days of the corporatisation of healthcare, there is also the compelling profit motive to prolong a life, if the patient comes from a wealthy background. For families that cannot afford it, long and futile treatment often results in debt after death.
To change our thinking on how to handle end-of-life situations, we need to change our thinking on health. Perfect health at any age, is almost an impossibility. Most people have something wrong with them, no matter how insignificant. Often treating something minor can lead to other complications as all medications have side effects.
Well-being and quality of life should not mean the absence of illness, but rather the ability to lead a full and happy life.
Finally, as the Chulalongkorn project tries to highlight palliative care, it should also consider propagating the merits of organ donation. Life does not have to end with death.
(Published: The Nation, Thailand, 8 June 2018)
Wow Laos 