Ethical Treatment of Dying Patients

An Individual Life Story

My last blog explored the ethical principles used as a framework for preserving the dignity of dying patients. The best way to achieve these aspirational goals is by acknowledging, respecting, and seeking to understand each individual's personal life story. Latimer (1991, p. 861) states, "With interested effort to know the patients fully, in all their joys and pains; pleasures and sorrows; ups and downs; highs and lows; which have given shape and form to their life and have led them through the years to their present situation, the inner resources of the patient can be tapped. Through these means, the caregiver can enter a relationship of intimacy and compassion, with encouragement and respect of the personal strength and individuality of each patient".

 

Too Soon Old

 

                                     What do you see nurses?......... What do you see?
                                     What are you thinking............. When you're looking at me?
                                     A crabby old man.................... Not very wise,
                                     Uncertain of habit................... With faraway eyes?

                                     Who dribbles his food.............. And makes no reply.
                                     When you say in a loud voice... 'I do wish you'd try!'
                                     Who seems not to notice......... The things that you do.
                                     And forever is losing................ A sock or shoe?

                                     Who, resisting or not............... Lets you do as you will,
                                     With bathing and feeding........ The long day to fill?
                                     Is that what you're thinking?.... Is that what you see?
                                     Then open your eyes, nurse...... You're not looking at me.

                                     I'll tell you who I am.................. As I sit here so still,
                                     As I do at your bidding.............. As I eat at your will.
                                     I'm a small child of Ten............. With a father and mother,
                                     Brothers and sisters.................. Who love one another.

                                     A young boy of Sixteen............. With wings on his feet..
                                     Dreaming that soon now........... A lover he'll meet.
                                     A groom soon at Twenty........... My heart gives a leap.
                                     Remembering, the vows........... That I promised to keep.

                                     At Twenty-Five, now................. I have young of my own.
                                     Who need me to guide.............. And a secure happy home.
                                     A man of Thirty......................... My young now grown fast,
                                     Bound to each other.................. With ties that should last.

                                     At Forty, my young sons............ Have grown and are gone,
                                     But my woman's beside me....... To see I don't mourn.
                                     At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
                                     Again, we know children............ My loved one and me.

                                     Dark days are upon me............... My wife is now dead.
                                     I look at the future...................... Shudder with dread.
                                     For my young are all rearing....... Young of their own.
                                     And I think of the years............... And the love that I've known.
 

                                     I'm now an old man.................... And nature is cruel.
                                     Tis jest to make old age.............. Look like a fool.
                                     The body, it crumbles................ Grace and vigor, depart.
                                     There is now a stone.................. Where I once had a heart.
 

                                     But inside this old carcass........... A young guy still dwells,
                                     And now and again..................... My battered heart swells.
                                     I remember the joys.................... I remember the pain.
                                     And I'm loving and living............. Life over again.
 

                                     I think of the years, all too few.... Gone too fast.
                                     And accept the stark fact............ That nothing can last.
                                     So open your eyes, people.......... Open and see.
                                     Not a crabby old man......... Look closer......... See ME!!
                                      (Griffith, n.d.)

References

Griffith, D. (n.d.). Too soon old. Inspire 21.com. Retrieved  from
          http://www.inspire21.com/stories/poetrystories/TooSoonOld
Latimer, E. (1991). Caring for seriously ill and dying patients: the philosophy and ethics. Canadian Medical
          Association Journal, 144 (7), 859-867.