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A History of Palliative Care, 1500-1970The Experience of Death and Terminal Care in Everyday Life

A History of Palliative Care, 1500-1970: The Experience of Death and Terminal Care in Everyday Life [This chapter approaches the experience of dying in the early modern period. Citing contemporary accounts of the excruciating suffering that cancer patients, in particular, often went through, it underlines the outstanding importance of good palliative care. It highlights some of major differences in the early modern “culture of dying”, such as the presence, ideally, of numerous bystanders at the deathbed. While religious faith could offer support and consolation, the chapter further shows, the belief that the state of the soul in the last moments before dying was decisive for the afterlife and the norms of the “art of dying” created also considerable pressure. The dying person was not allowed to express his or her anguish and pain but had to exhibit calmness and an unshakeable trust in God. For similar reasons, a sudden death or a loss of consciousness before dying were greatly feared. Only in the eighteenth century, with the “decline of religion” some came to see a sudden death as a “good” death.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A History of Palliative Care, 1500-1970The Experience of Death and Terminal Care in Everyday Life

Part of the Philosophy and Medicine Book Series (volume 123)
Stolberg, Michael
Springer Journals — Apr 29, 2017
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17 pages

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Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Copyright
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
ISBN
978-3-319-54177-8
Pages
69 –86
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-54178-5_4
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[This chapter approaches the experience of dying in the early modern period. Citing contemporary accounts of the excruciating suffering that cancer patients, in particular, often went through, it underlines the outstanding importance of good palliative care. It highlights some of major differences in the early modern “culture of dying”, such as the presence, ideally, of numerous bystanders at the deathbed. While religious faith could offer support and consolation, the chapter further shows, the belief that the state of the soul in the last moments before dying was decisive for the afterlife and the norms of the “art of dying” created also considerable pressure. The dying person was not allowed to express his or her anguish and pain but had to exhibit calmness and an unshakeable trust in God. For similar reasons, a sudden death or a loss of consciousness before dying were greatly feared. Only in the eighteenth century, with the “decline of religion” some came to see a sudden death as a “good” death.]

Published: Apr 29, 2017

Keywords: Eighteenth Century; Seventeenth Century; Sick Person; Early Modern Period; Eternal Life

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