These essays, from the pricker of British medical establishment conscience, are thought-provoking and controversial. There is pleasure in their literary accompaniments: poems and philosophical musings, interspersed with granite logic, beautifully simply written. I learned new ideas: the important things in helping people die are finding meaning in their lives, acting as a witness, and being the familiar of death. If this sounds nonsense to you, read the book. The important things are continuity, touch, perhaps even allowing pain to be experienced, continuity of care, but more; continuity of the dead with the living, encouraging the evocation of memories, talking even when the patient is too exhausted to reciprocate. There's no talk of ‘spirit’; this is neither religious nor sentimental. General practice care for the dying is our quintessence.
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