The Bishop of Elphin’s comments followed an announcement
by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care that more
than half of those surveyed admit to having at best a basic level of
understanding of what palliative care involves.
The survey of 1000 adults found that 27% said they had a
basic understanding of palliative care, 12% said they had a low level of
understanding, and 16% said they had no understanding of palliative
care.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Dr Doran said,
“It’s probably quite correct to say that a lot of people including
doctors and nurses sometimes don’t quite understand what palliative care
means.
“It’s not all about just letting people die. It’s not all
about a particular kind of medication,” Dr Doran continued. “A lot of
it’s about the kind of atmosphere that we create for people where they
know that they’re cared for; even when there’s nothing that can be done
for them medically, they will be respected and valued as members of the
human family – people will listen to them and respond to their human
cares.”
Dr Regina McQuillan of Beaumont Hospital and St Francis’
Hospice, Raheny, agreed that low levels of awareness were probably to be
expected since, “people tend not to think about different types of
healthcare until they need it – if they don’t need it, it might not be
on their mind at all”.
Pointing out that palliative care is not merely for those
who are close to death or severely suffering, and that most palliative
care is delivered in people’s homes rather than in hospices, she told
The Irish Catholic that palliative care can improve quality of life for
many, and can help people have a dignified ‘good death’.
“‘Death with dignity’ has basically been a phrase that’s been hijacked by the assisted dying movement,” she said.
Trinity College Dublin’s Professor Des O’Neill stressed
that the survey ought not to be read as raising concerns about Ireland’s
palliative care facilities.
“It’s probably important to reassure people that most
people die with reported high levels of dignity, that palliative care is
broadly available in Ireland, and that it’s available in the community
and in hospitals.”