Authors

Francisco Javier de Prada Pérez

Position

Diplomado en Enfermería y Licenciado en CC. de la Información.

Contact address

C/ Pueblo Viejo, 16, 1º dcha. 31010 Barañáin, Navarra.

Abstract

People say that "ignorance is daring", and because of this, and not knowing much about Units of Palliative Care, I decided, to do my practical classes in one of these units. In our third year of the program, the majority of students in the class prefer to train in the emergency room or in the intensive care unit. They say it is the best learning place. However, in my case, my previous training in the oncology ward, arouse in me the curiosity to get a closer look at the final stage of the care chain. One starts to day dream and before you know it, images flow to your mind of something that reminds you of the so called "death corridor", shown from time to time on American films. A place (the units of palliative care) where one waits in desolation the death penalty, with no hope for the Governor to postpone the sentence. A corridor in which patients change the orange clothes for a while hospital gown and where the governor is personified by the doctor, who administers the best he can the time left. But do not be fooled, all these fantasies vanish completely the moment you get to know at close range the work that is done in these units.

Keywords:

palliative care; the right to receive information; the right to a dignified death; companionshipdeath

Versión en Español

Título:

Reflexiones sobre las prácticas clínicas en una Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos