Talking Points

The authors of Talking about Dying write to the Times and Church of England Newspaper

With all the sadness of the 100,000 (and counting) deaths in the UK from COVID in the last year, one issue has been resolutely avoided in the public domain. For thousands of years, the many religions in the world have seen this life as just leading on to a different and usually greater world beyond death.

Is this just outdated unscientific wishful thinking?

The experience of some people suggests it is something to consider.

In the Covid 19 era the likelihood of death and place of death for different groups of people has changed

Aside from this Covid 19 era half of us will die in hospital. A recent government study shows that, for the majority, hospitals deal well with the dying. But one area for improvement appears to be communication between medical staff and the patient and their families. While medical staff can be reluctant to be pessimistic, most patients and their families would prefer to be told if the end is very near.

Recently his mother, aged 93, died ‘in excruciating pain’. This event has caused him to reflect on the problem of pain and suffering, either in body or in mind, and to look into its meaning and purpose for those with a religious belief.

Nurses have believed for a long time that even when almost all signs of life have left, a dying patient might well be able to hear your parting words.

Coping with ‘probate’ after a person dies intestate is very troubling and unsatisfactory.

In the midst of Covid -19, advanced cancer patients are given the opportunity for discussion of palliative/hospice care,