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Spirituality, meaning, and transcendence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2005

KENNETH A. BRYSON
KENNETH A. BRYSON
Affiliation:
Cape Breton University
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Abstract

End-of-life care provides an opportunity to help a patient find meaning in the experience of dying. This is a challenge because the experience of dying can rob a patient of meaning. The first step is to look at death as being a process of life rather than an event. This is brought about by welding the broken pieces of the mind–body connection. Medicine cannot always fix broken pieces, but spiritual welding always puts us back together again. Compassionate end-of-life care helps a patient connect spirituality with the search for meaning and transcendence.

Keywords

HolisticMeaningPerson-makingSpiritualTranscendence
Type
ESSAY/PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 321 - 328
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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References

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