Four Corners - A Good Death

I am sitting on one of our lounges watching Four Corners, one of my favourite programs on tv. Tonight, reporter Deborah Masters has investigated palliative care by following four Australians as they come to terms with their terminal illness and prognosis. It is an intensely personal documentary and I feel really privileged to have watched this episode tonight. The four Australians who are preparing for their deaths are just so incredibly brave and reinforce the dignity that they maintain, even in their journey to death. We, as a society focus so much on life and our journey through life - one of the Australians, Darryl has talked about the journey to death.

I worked in a nursing home and a low care aged facility for five years. I got to know many people and their families. I was there when many of the residents required palliative care at the nursing home and I was asked to care for them when I was on duty. I remember when many had died and I had the privilege of preparing them for the viewing by their families. It never got easier when people died, but I remember thinking about how important it was for me to do my job well, to ensure that their families could be in comfort.

The doctors in the documentary have commented on how some medicos find it difficult to discuss with patients a bad prognosis and that there is nothing more that they can do for them. One doctor talked about how important it is for doctors to be able to say they will care for patients, even if they can't cure their illness. That is so true. One nurse talked about the greatest respect she shows to the patient, even after they have died. It brought tears to my eyes as this is how I saw what I did at the nursing home - often when others wouldn't. It is just the greatest privilege to be able to care for someone who could not do anything for you. It is even greater to be able to ensure dignity in death. Thank you Four Corners for taking me back 15 years, to when I first worked that evening shift in a nursing home. I learnt so much about caring for others and watching the episode tonight brought it all back. We should honour those who work in palliative care and encourage other doctors and nurses into that area of specialty. We need to ensure care and dignity in death as we hold as so important in life.

Feel free to follow the link to the episode.

http://tinyurl.com/ya974g