title: The last 48 hours of life: a case study of symptom control for a patient taking a Buddhist approach to dying.
abstract: Caring for a patient dying of cancer can, at times, be extremely difficult. Sarah was 39 years old when she died, survived by her husband and two children aged 6 and 4 years. During the weeks leading up to her death, Sarah held extensive discussions with family and the multidisciplinary team. Her goal was to live the remainder of her last few hours as comfortable as possible and to die a "peaceful death". Terminal care is an important phase of life, one in which individuals have the right to expect quality of care to ensure that their death occurs with dignity. Sarah practised Buddhism on a daily basis. Issues of spirituality, serenity and peacefulness in dying were very important to her to ensure a good rebirth.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Day Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D002016:Buddhism / Q000523:psychology*; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality