KHARON

Thanatology Review

Electronic Journal

Content

Volume 10

Number 1-2 · 2006

Original article


  KATHLEEN M. FOLEY
KATHLEEN M. FOLEY

Ph.D. az International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) elnöke

The past and future of palliative care

Abstract · Chair of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), Dr. Kathleen Foley reviews the most important current issues of hospice and palliative care on an international level and in her home country, the United States of America. The study clarifies some basic concepts e.g. the differences between hospice and palliative care. The author provides with a detailed analysis on the difficulties of introduction of end-of-life care and its integration into the health care system in one of the most developed countries of the world.


KATHLEEN M. FOLEY (2005): The Past and Future of Palliative Care. Improving End-of-life Care. Why Has It Been So Difficult? Hasting Center Report Special Report 35 (6): S42-S46
 MÓNIKA TURCSÁNYI
MÓNIKA TURCSÁNYI

pszichológus

turcsanyimonika@freemail.hu

 ADRIEN RIGÓ
ADRIEN RIGÓ

Ph.D. adjunktus, pszichológus

Medical students’ fear from death and its effect on empathy during medical education

Abstract · It is unavoidable for medical students to face death that makes coping with fear of death neccessary as well. During pre-clinical years practices of pathology and anatomy are the paramount scenes of facing death. The way medical students cope with these experiences may influence their attitudes and relationship with patients. The present research was primarily aimed to explore possible relationships between empathy and methods of coping with fear from death and with experiences confronting with death. Our results show that there are coping patterns correlating with both fear from death or its some component and some component of empathy, thus their mediator role is possible. Based on the results we made a theoretical model according to which objectification and cognition as coping strategies may play a mediating role between fear from death and empathetic care or empathetic distress.

 ÁDÁM VAJSZ
ÁDÁM VAJSZ

orvostanhallgató

vadamadam@freemail.hu

Adjudication of euthanasia among medical students

Abstract · The study examines medical students’ perfection in, and attitude towards euthanasia. During the investigation I surveyed 60 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University using a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions. The aim was to assess to what extent the students are aware of the topic and to what extent they are prepared to the related communicational and health care difficulties.

Methods: During the survey I asked 60 sttudents altogether, ten from each years: five girls and five boys. The selection of the students was totally random within the grades, irrespectively of scholastic record, religion, family or financial background or the profession of the parents. The results were analyzed in two groups (lower and higher grade students).

Results: Although the students receive many information related to this issue they are not completely aware of the concepts and are not prepared to these situations neither in communicational nor medical or legal point of view.

Conclusions: The universities should put more emphasis on making the students more aware of treating patients in terminal condition or other severe cases, of communication with them and – for the sake of the patients and themselves – of related knowledge.