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TeEndofExistenceinPsychologicalOutlookonFormsofDanger
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However,theintimacyofthelastmomentsoflifehasalwaysbeenpoisonedby
theuglinessofthedisease,whichinasenseexplainsthesourceofneedtocamouflage
thisuglinesstoanyonewhoencountersit.Whentheefectivemeansofdefense
againstinaccuratefatedisappear,thehospitaltogetherwithitsprofessionalbutcold
personneltakesovertheroleofasecuriticcommunity,givingeverythingthathas
theknowledge,beyondthefeelings.Althoughthehospitaltosomeextentcreates
conditionsforcomfortandrelieffromexcessivesufering,itdoesnotgivehopefor
theimperishabilityofexistence.Tesenseofitsfinitenessisthereforesomehow
clarifiedbytheclinicsandparadoxicallyconfirmedbythefamily’scare.Inthis
way,onthebasisofthiscontradiction,theconditionsarecreatedforthealiena-
tionofaterminalpersonwhocanendurethewarmthofafamilyhomeintheend
oflifeofsomeonewhoalsocountsontheemotionalinvolvementofhospitalcare.
Tehospiceisapracticalexpressionofthisrelativelyfriendlymodelofpassingaway.
TeinstitutionalexpressionofthisideacanbefoundedbyDavidKesslerin1984
inLosAngeles,ProgressiveNursingServices,whichprovidedsupportimpossible
toobtaininhospitalsorevenprivateclinics.TegoalofKessler’scompany,apart
fromdevotiontotheneedsofterminallyillpatients(mainlyAIDSandcancer),
wasthetransformationofcold,impersonalexperienceintoafeelingoflove,relief
andunderstandingfromcarers.
59
Teroleofhospice,accordingtothisconception,isalsotopreparefam-
ilyandfriendsforaneventthatcannot(orrathershouldnot)beperceivedas
atragic,horrible,lonelyandapainfulexperience.Teideaofahospicewasini-
tiallypromotedbyElisabethKübler-RossanddisseminatedinpracticebyMother
TeresaofCalcutta.Tepostulatesofthelatter,addressedtolife,wereintroduced
intonursinghomesintheformofdyinglaws.Tefunctioningofterminalcare
centersisbasedonrespectforaseriesoffundamentaldyinglaws,whicharenow
anobligatoryinterpretationofacogentattitudetowardspeoplesayinggoodbyeto
life.
60Teserightsinclude:1)treatingeverydyinghumanbeingasalivingbeing;
2)retainingasenseofhopeforallparticipantsintheprocessofdyingregardless
ofthecircumstances;3)takingcareofpersonssupportinghoperegardlessofthe
circumstances;4)expressingfeelingsandemotionsrelatedtodeathintheirown
way;5)participationbythepatientinmakingalldecisionsregardingcare;6)car-
ingforpeoplewhoaresympathetic,sensitive,competent,whotrytounderstand
individualneeds;7)waitingforuninterruptedmedicalcare,evenifthe“treatment”
changesinto“bringingrelief”;8)receivingbythesickandtheirrelativeshonestand
non-evasiveanswerstoallquestions;9)creationofallconditionsforseekingaspi-
ritualitybythedepartingman;10)releaseofthepatientfromphysicalpain;11)ex-
pressingfeelingsandemotionsrelatedtopainintheirownway;12)participation
59
Vide:D.Kessler,Śmierćjestczęściążycia.Oprawodogodnegoumierania,transl.byE.Czerwińska,Świat
Książki,Warszawa1999.
60
Vide:MatkaTeresa,Prostadroga,selectedbyL.Vardey,transl.byR.Grzybowska,J.WęcławikSVD,Wydaw-
nictwoVerbinum,Warszawa1996,pp.89-140.
