SAPETA, Paula; SIMÕES, Angela (2018) - Silences in palliative care-the primacy of human presence . Hos Pal Med Int Jnl. 2(3):161‒164. DOI: 10.15406/hpmij.2018.02.00081
10.15406/hpmij.2018.02.00081
Title
Silences in palliative care: the primacy of human presence
Subject
Palliative care Death Communication Silence Presence Human
Date
2018-07-31T11:07:25Z 2018-07-31T11:07:25Z 2018-06
Description
Our world is very noisy. It’s the shrill sound of deafening music, the unbearable
screams of hysterical people, is the constant aggression to our ears coming from
mobile commercial advertising, and finally, there is a foreign conspiracy, under
various forms of protest, against the need for peace and stillness . The world must
think. We need, everyone, to hear more. Life calls for silence and reflection. Respect
the patient’s silence implicit a deep respect for his personality, a sublime professional
act that demonstrate the ethic of the health professional. It is, probably, in the moment
of serene acceptance of death, that haunt the quiet periods of silence. The patient
no longer wants explanations, is mind grasps the great truth. At such moments the
health professionals should not abandon the patient. They must maintain this silence, a
understanding glance, the gentle touch of hands. They must establish a better dialogue,
never a empty set of words. Caring is also carefully listening, being present, sharing
the silence, complicity; be challenged by the lack of words. It’s welcoming. This
article is based on a narrative review of the literature related with the therapeutic use
of silence in end-of-life care. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion