The Paths to R.I.P.

Having “a good death” has been an abstract ideal as well as a relentless pursuit for the majority of Chinese people. This strong traditional belief of a “good death” however, often presents itself as a mismatch with some of the core values underlying the medical system in current age. While caregivers hold onto the beliefs of giving their best efforts in caring and doing the utmost to save lives for those who are nearing the end of life, these best intentions often take a heavy toll on caregivers physically and emotionally. At the same time, these efforts do not necessarily translate into “a good death” for those who are nearing the end of life. On the contrary, they could add to existing stress and make dying in peace challenging.
Science and technology is making huge strides every day in the medical field, and this is contributing to the overall prolonged survival and the increase of people suffering from chronic illnesses going into the stage of end-of-life. The current panel discussion provides different perspectives on the challenges presented at the forefront of end-of-life care as well as the clinical judgments around proper medical interventions in the context of such care. It will also analyze the choices between palliative care in a facility and home end-of-life care programmes, and discuss on how best to achieve “a good death” for those who are nearing the end of life and “a good parting” for those who are caring for them.