FINAL PROJECT: Abstract and Reader's Reponse > Humanistic Aspects of End-of-Life Care
E, you capture the pathos overload problem in this topic quite well. I wonder if, some movie scenes to be included in your Resources section would be helpful. The ability of drama -- including tragedy -- to teach or acquaint an audience with "practice" pathos is well known.
About your sources, what are the fields of the researchers? To emphasize the humanities here, you can note if a thinker is:
medical anthropologists
bioethicist
historian
philosopher
artist
writer
policymaker
faith figure
This small touch will help students see the contributions of other fields.
May 12, 2019 |
MbS
MbS
Abstract: This curriculum module gives an overview of palliative and hospice care, outlining some of the humanistic aspects that factor into end-of-life care. To provide an introduction to the ethics of end-of-life care, a patient guide by the National Institute of Aging is referenced, profiling some common ethical dilemmas such as the decision to use a feeding tube. Many technologies used to prolong life can have adverse effects on quality of life and can create ambiguous situations when no clear decisions have been made beforehand. The module also outlines the role of physicians in end-of-life care. The legal duty of the physician is described in a summary (Ackermann, 2000) of the American Medical Association’s Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care curriculum module, and the uncertain spiritual role of the physician is also discussed (Schweinitz, 2011). Next, the module looks into the way that cultural factors impact the effectiveness of end-of-life care. Referencing a study by the University of Auckland, the effectiveness of hospice services in serving other cultures is questioned. Overall, several humanistic aspects of end-of-life care are considered, providing an exploratory review of the interplay of humanities and medicine in this realm of medical care.
Reader Profile: I imagine a young reader in good health with no close friends or family members currently in hospital care. They find the subject of end-of-life care upsetting, and see no reason for themselves to delve into the topic when it has little relevance to their life.
Reader’s Response: This module is detailed, however, I have trouble learning about this topic because of it’s heavy emotional implications. I don’t see any reason for me to learn about this upsetting subject when it has no relevance to my field of interest. Reading about this subject seems like it would cause a great deal of stress to me without giving me much pertinent information or knowledge.