A History of Palliative Care, 1500-1970 : Concepts, Practices, and Ethical challenges / by Michael Stolberg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Stolberg, Michael., Author.

Series:

Philosophy and Medicine, 0376-7418 ; 123

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Medicine—History.

Ethics.

History of Medicine.

Local Subjects:

History of Medicine.

Ethics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (VIII, 219 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2017.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2017.

Summary:

This book on the history of palliative care, 1500-1970 traces the historical roots of modern palliative care in Europe to the rise of the hospice movement in the 1960s. The author discusses largely forgotten premodern concepts like cura palliativa and euthanasia medica and describes, how patients and physicians experienced and dealt with terminal illness. He traces the origins of hospitals for incurable and dying patients and follows the long history of ethical debates on issues like truth-telling and the intentional shortening of the dying patients’ lives and the controversies they sparked between physicians and patients. An eye opener for anyone interested in the history of ethical decision making regarding terminal care of critically ill patients.

Contents:

Part I: The Early Modern Period (1500–1800)

Ethical Challenges

The Experience of Death and Terminal Care in Everyday Life

Part II: Modern Times (1800–1970)

The Rise and Fall of Euthanasia Medica

The Practice of Palliative Treatment

The Doctor as an Emotional and Spiritual Caregiver

The Perspective of Patients

Ethical Controversies

Institutional Care

The Time after 1945

Conclusion: Continuity and Change

Selected Bibliography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

3-319-54178-1