Spirituality and palliative care
Schuetz, B.
Australian Family Physician 24(5): 775-777
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8495 PMID: 7540835 Document Number: 453026
A terminal illness represents a spiritual crisis for many, but not all, patients. As the general practitioner confronts the illness with the patient a relationship develops which can itself be therapeutic. I believe that general practitioners can become attuned to the spiritual needs of their patients by having a commitment to the patient and focusing on the illness rather than the disease. Medical school did not prepare me for these lessons, rather they have been taught since by my patients.