American scientists reviewed the literature on death and dying, and as a result, they identified 11 main signs of a good (most comfortable for a person) death. They presented their findings in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
The researchers collected the perspectives of three groups related to death: patients, their families and representatives of the health care system. “For the first time, the positions of all interested parties were united. Of course, death is a very complex topic. People don't like talking about her. However, it is very important to honestly and openly discuss how each of us wants to end our days,”said lead author Dilip Jeste.
In total, scientists have identified 11 parameters that are important for a good death: the ability to determine its conditions, the absence of pain, spiritual and religious dimensions, emotional well-being, a sense of completeness in life, the choice of treatment, dignity, family presence, quality of life, relationships with doctors - and “other.
Three “themes” were named as important by representatives of all three groups (emotional well-being, absence of pain, the ability to determine the conditions of death). For the rest, opinions differed. For example, the spiritual dimension of death turned out to be more important for patients than for their family members (for the latter, self-esteem and completeness of life came first). Medical professionals have taken an intermediate position.
However, the authors of the study argue that ultimately it is the patient's voice that should have the most weight. “Usually dying people know what they need and they feel better if they talk about it,” Jest said.
In 2015, Swedish scientists developed a five-minute online test that, in their opinion, makes it possible to adequately assess the likelihood of dying in the next five years - in middle-aged men and women (40-70 years). The test consists of 13 questions for men and 11 for women.