The Pursuit of Life: The Promise and Challenge of Palliative Care

This volume examines crucial concerns in palliative care, including the proper balance between comfort and cure for the patient, the integration of spiritual well-being, and the challenges of providing care in the absence of basic medical services and supplies. In the first section, palliative-care pioneers Constance Dahlin, Eduardo Bruera, Neil MacDonald, and Declan Walsh recount the early history of the discipline. Part 2 discusses the role of poetry, prose, plays, and other aspects of the humanities in the practice of palliative care. Part 3 explores essential current issues in the field, including autonomy, the use of opioids, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the evolution of palliative care. The final section focuses on the spiritual dimensions of pain and suffering. Rich with anecdotes and personal stories and featuring contributions from pioneers and current practitioners, __The Pursuit of Life__ is an essential assessment of the past, present, and future of palliative care. In addition to the editors, the contributors include W. Andrew Achenbaum, Stacy L. Auld, Elena Pagani Bagliacca, Costantino Benedetti, Courtenay Bruce, Eduardo Bruera, Joseph Calandrino, Jim Cleary, Constance Dahlin, Andrea Ferrari, Mauro Ferrari, Joseph J. Fins, Bettie Jo Tennon Hightower, Kathryn B. Kirkland, Robin W. Lovin, Neil MacDonald, Charles Millikan, Dominique J. Monlezun, Tullio Proserpio, Giovanna Sironi, Daniel P. Sulmasy, and Declan Walsh.

This volume examines crucial concerns in palliative care,including the proper balance between comfort and cure for thepatient, the integration of spiritual well-being, and thechallenges of providing care in the absence of basic medicalservices and supplies.

In the first section, palliative-care pioneers Constance Dahlin,Eduardo Bruera, Neil MacDonald, and Declan Walsh recount the earlyhistory of the discipline. Part 2 discusses the role of poetry,prose, plays, and other aspects of the humanities in the practiceof palliative care. Part 3 explores essential current issues in thefield, including autonomy, the use of opioids, and the impact ofartificial intelligence on the evolution of palliative care. Thefinal section focuses on the spiritual dimensions of pain andsuffering.

Rich with anecdotes and personal stories and featuringcontributions from pioneers and current practitioners, ThePursuit of Life is an essential assessment of the past,present, and future of palliative care.

In addition to the editors, the contributors include W. AndrewAchenbaum, Stacy L. Auld, Elena Pagani Bagliacca, CostantinoBenedetti, Courtenay Bruce, Eduardo Bruera, Joseph Calandrino, JimCleary, Constance Dahlin, Andrea Ferrari, Mauro Ferrari, Joseph J.Fins, Bettie Jo Tennon Hightower, Kathryn B. Kirkland, Robin W.Lovin, Neil MacDonald, Charles Millikan, Dominique J. Monlezun,Tullio Proserpio, Giovanna Sironi, Daniel P. Sulmasy, and DeclanWalsh.

Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Palliative Care. Personal Memoirs 1 Evolution of Palliative Nursing: Art, Science, and Collaboration 2 The Challenge of Bringing Palliative Medicine and Person-Centered Care to Large Hospitals and Universities 3 The Evolutionary Relationship of Oncology and Palliative Care: A Personal Journey 4 Palliative Medicine: A Personal Journey Palliative Care Pain and Suffering 5 Time to Death: Chronos, Kairos, and the “Longest Distance Between Two Poles” 6 Teaching Clinicians to Read: How Narrative Medicine Prepares Clinicians for Palliative Care 7 Sophocles, Hospice, and the Call of the Body Palliative Care Essential Issues 8 What Is Autonomy and What Is It Good For? 9 Human Flourishing and Palliative Care: Autonomy, Mortality, and Rationality 10 The Robin Hood of Opioids: Palliative Care in the Underdeveloped World 11 Overcoming the Devastation Caused by Cultivated Ignorance About Pain and Opioid Addiction 12 Artificial Intelligence in Palliative Care: An Integral Look into the Future of Our End Palliative Care The Caregiver 13 A Spiritual Environment of Caring 14 Preparing Spiritual Caregivers: Personal Reflections, Practical Advice, and Helpful Programs 15 Palliative Care: A Chaplain’s Perspective 16 Lucia’s Dream: A Holistic Approach to Adolescents with Cancer Appendix The Marialuisa Lectureship for Life: A Brief Introduction Contributors