Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Our fear of death and the loss of a loved one are two of the most monumental emotional challenges of human existence. This anxiety is usually suppressed and is only exposed when the reality of a possible death is confronted. Fear of death stems from different sources, for example, the thought of our non-existence and the fear of the unknown of what lies beyond death. Palliative care has recognized the power of this suffering and is concerned with helping people cope and adapt. This is incorporated into a philosophy of care that has resulted in the principles of palliative care. In industrialized and technological societies, death has been removed from the family home into institutions with care provided by professionals. This has resulted in a lack of familiarity with the dying process, which may contribute to a fear of death and dying within society. Death, dying and bereavement challenges the fundamental values and meaning of the human experience. Such a threat has the potential to provoke considerable distress and has therefore interested health professionals. It is important while providing care that we do not lose sight of the individual patient involved and the individuality of each experience of dying, death and bereavement. This presentation will review how to improve the understanding of the processes involved, the damaging consequences that can occur and the role of health professionals in caring for the dying and the bereaved.

Biography

Mohammed Abduh Alshaqi is a Palliative Medicine Doctor. He completed his MBBS from King Saud University 1992/1993, Arab Board of Family Medicine 2001, then Palliative Care from Canada and King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center at 2006 and 2008. He is now a Consultant and Head of Palliative Medicine, division of Oncology Department at Prince Sultan Military Medical City at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition to that, he is a trainer and external examiner of Palliative Medicine of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and Acting director of Saudi Society of Palliative Care since 2013 till present. He is a member of many affiliations and societies like American Academy of Family Physicians and Saudi Society of Family and Community Medicine since 2001. In addition to that, he is a Member of Middle East Academy of Medicine of Aging (MEAMA) since 2003, Member of International Association for Hospice and Palliative care since 2006, Member of Saudi Oncology Society since 2008, member of Saudi Pain Society since 2009, Member of Group on Educational Affairs (GEA) for Medical Education Research Program (MERC) since 2011, and Member of Arab Society of Palliative Care since 2014 till present.

Email: shaqimmman43@gmail.com