On Hospice Care and Transcendence

"Ben Okri, the great novelist, wrote about the importance of sharing stories, a process which he described as enabling a greater connection among people to the common bond of ‘human destiny, human suffering, and human transcendence’. The stories that Okri alludes to, are very much present and numerous within the field of advanced diseases and palliative care. Central to these stories, shared and heard, are the beliefs, values and the personal meanings about life that makes each person unique, alongside the common bond with others and with the world in which they live."

"Spirituality in palliative care" BMC Palliative Care 2023; 22:1 - Barry Quinn and Michael Connolly

As a resident in Family Medicine, though the concept of Hospice care is closer to  Oncologists, I have been given the opportunity to work along side the Hospice center for Gangnam Severance Hospital. It was just one year ago the hospital launched the Hospice program, and I was the starting resident for it. Just a year later, the hospital established a center now with more staff. 

Though many patients come from different backgrounds and diseases, a common theme is that each patient is on somewhat of a journey with their course of diease. Some lash out onto the medical staff, while others have fully accepted their status. 

Yet, I feel like if the patient spends more time talking to someone, be it anybody, the journey seems to be carried on with a lighter weight. I don't quite have much opinions on the human destiny, the suffering and the transcendence, but I do believe sharing stories do really have a positive impact on each other. 

As more and more medical services are delivered electronically, I feel the need for a good talk grow every day.