Palliative care researchers and clinicians discuss their experience using Dignity Therapy. Part one of two.
Dignity Violation in Health Care
Jacobson N. Qualitative Health Research. 2009; 19(11):1536-1547.
This paper attempts to understand the various ways in which dignity violations may occur in health care, including factors related to work context and the relationship between health care providers and consumers. Interventions that may reduce dignity violations are discussed.
The Devil is in the Third Year: A Longitudinal Study of Erosion of Empathy in Medical School
Hojat M, Vergare MJ, Maxwell K, Brainard G, Herrine SK, Isenberg GA, Veloski J, Gonnella JS. Academic Medicine. 2009; 84 (9): 1182-91.
This longitudinal study found a significant decline in empathy during students’ third year of medical school. This seems counterintuitive, as this is when students often begin patient care activities. The implications are discussed.
Dignity-Conserving Care – A New Model for Palliative Care: Helping the Patient Feel Valued
Chochinov HM. JAMA. 2002;287(17):2253-2260.
This article explores various aspects of dignity-conserving care, describes the Dignity Model, and shows how dignity-conserving care can be used as a principle of bedside care for patients nearing death.
Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors
Handler, Evan. Holt Paperbacks, 1997.
ISBN-10: 0805050671; ISBN-13: 978-0805050677
The author discusses his leukemia diagnosis and will to survive. He describes his experiences with the medical world, which seems sometimes uncaring and sometimes compassionate, as well as his survival strategies.