Onkológia 6/2014

End of life

Slovakia has been witnessing the opening of the social space for discussion about what health care activities are proper and commensurate once the lives of terminally ill and geriatric are coming to an end. The essay emphasizes the importance of palliative medicine and palliative care as an essential component of the comprehensive package of medical, spiritual and social care for people suffering from serious illnesses during their last days. The palliative team respects the patient’s will and uses the high tech-high touch approach to provide relief from pain and suffering, maintain the patient’s dignity in dying and create space for searching for the meaning of life and reconciliation.

Keywords: palliative medicine, palliative care, palliative team, end of life, meaning of life, living will, high tech – high touch.