Forum.
Summary
In considering cultural aspects of sedation at the end of life, it is important not to assume that a dying person’s race, ethnicity or spiritual beliefs will necessarily define their attitude towards death, or to the processes and rituals that surround dying. To quote Jansen et al, “The quality of patient care will depend largely on the skill of the clinician in reaching an understanding of the patient’s values and needs, and coaxing them into clarity19.”
It is easy for health professionals to ignore ethnic and cultural differences, especially when they themselves are part of the dominant culture. This “culture-blindness” results in the patient being seen out of their own social context, so that their differences become a deviance rather than a cultural norm1. Asking the patient and family about their values is not only a way to establish their personal preferences; it also gives the patient a sense of control, and provides the health professional with an opportunity to examine their own attitudes. To ask the questions, requires a depth of understanding outside the basic therapeutic relationship, but leads to a vital and fundamental opportunity to learn from each other.
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