Abstract · People encounter philosophical questions quite often in their lives. As they become aware of the finiteness of life, these philosophical aspects become more prominent. Death is one of the ever-present problems of philosophy. I argue that examining the big questions of our lives philosophically is a basic need of people. Concerning this often unconscious need, we might even talk about a certain philosophical quality of life. The philosophical quality of life might be an important aspect in complex health care, especially in end-of-life care. Individual or collective conversations with a professional philosopher, thus the different forms of a philosophical praxis can support the philosophical thinking of people. In this study, I sum up the possible application of philosophical praxis in end-of-life situations. I shortly summarise the particular attributes of philosophical thinking and conversation, and then I present an experiment within the frame of a workshop that aimed the enforcement of the basic principles of collective philosophical conversation about death at the XI National Congress of the Hungarian Hospice Palliative Association in Zalaegerszeg.

Abstract · Our study aims to provide a general overview on the current situation of hospice care services in Hungary, with the aim of promoting further improvement in the field by drawing attention to its successful results and deficiencies. Statistics from 2013 have already mentioned almost 90 hospice care institutions in Hungary. While the increase in the number of services can be considered as a remarkable success, the small number of palliative care beds (it is only 1/3 of the number of beds required by the WHO) and the regional disproportion of these beds in the country are still major problems. Only 25% of terminal cancer patients get to receive palliative care, although about 80% would be in need of the services. Doctors rarely take part in home care: medication and palliative therapy is less than 10%; also, treatments relating to mental health, social therapy, physiotherapy or dietary care, which require working as a team, constitute only a low percentage. The regulation adopted by the Ministry of Human Capacities in 2013 on palliative medical licence and the 40-hour training in palliative care, which has been compulsory for residents since 2016, will hopefully improve the general medical approach. This improvement can also lead to the development of real teamwork between experts. Regular statistical review of hospice care in Hungary and broadcasting the results might help breaking down taboos and common misconceptions about hospice care services.