Skip to content
Coordinates of Thought
Sign in
Question · Open

What makes a death a “good death”?

Elin Lindqvist Contributor
· 4 replies
Death#dying#good-death
Follow

In palliative care we talk constantly about a "good death". Usually it means: pain controlled, the person not alone, their wishes known and respected, family prepared, no futile interventions at the end.

That's a medical and practical list, and I believe in it. But I wonder whether it's missing something. It describes a death that is comfortable and managed. Different traditions have much richer ideas of what a good death is: dying with the right words, at the right place, in a certain state of mind, having settled your debts and quarrels.

What does your tradition, or your own thinking, say a good death is? Is there anything on my list you'd remove?

4 answers

  1. Arjun Iyer

    Fellow

    In many Hindu families a good death is a conscious one: dying with the name of God on one's lips or in one's hearing, ideally at home, on the floor rather than a bed, surrounded by family. Some old people still wish to die in Varanasi. A heavily sedated death in an ICU is, for many, the opposite of good, however comfortable.

  2. Omar Farouk

    Contributor

    In Islamic tradition the emphasis is on being prepared: repentance, debts settled, a will made, and the hope of having the shahada as one's last words. As a doctor I've had families ask us to reduce sedation so their father could say it. That conflicts with "pain controlled" on your list, and they're not wrong to prioritise as they do.

    Helpful · 1
    1. Elin Lindqvist

      Contributor

      Omar, that's a tension I see often. Our list assumes comfort is the highest good at the end. For some people, being awake for the last words matters more than being pain-free, and we have to learn to ask rather than assume.

      Helpful · 3
  3. Giulia Ferrante

    Fellow

    The ancient answer is the Phaedo again: Socrates dies talking philosophy with friends, makes a joke, keeps a promise, bathes so the women won't have to wash his body. A good death there is one that is still his, in character to the end.

    Helpful · 2

Members reply here. Reading is always free.

Sign in to reply