title: Embracing a broad spirituality in end of life discussions and advance care planning.
abstract: Advance care planning for end of life typically focuses on the mechanics of completing living wills and durable power of attorney documents. Even when spiritual aspects of end of life care are discussed, the dominant assumptions are those of traditional religious systems. A broad view of spirituality is needed, one that may involve traditional religious beliefs but also includes personal understandings of what is holy or sacred. Embracing this broad practice of spirituality will help both familial and professional caregivers honor an essential aspect of end of life discussions and promote greater discernment of the deep meaning in advance care documents.
authors.affiliation: Ann Geddes Stahlman Professor of Medical Ethics, Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Secondary Appt: Divinity School, Philosophy Department, Vanderbilt University, 2525 West End Ave., Suite 400, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA, larry.churchill@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Larry R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Churchill
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D006801:Humans; D016224:Living Wills / Q000523:psychology; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*