title: Spirituality and palliative care.
abstract: A terminal illness represents a spiritual crisis for many, but not all, patients. As the general practitioner confronts the illness with the patient a relationship develops which can itself be therapeutic. I believe that general practitioners can become attuned to the spiritual needs of their patients by having a commitment to the patient and focusing on the illness rather than the disease. Medical school did not prepare me for these lessons, rather they have been taught since by my patients.
authors.affiliation: Wauchope District Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuetz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology