Marie Curie and partner organisations petition the government for better care for terminally ill individuals and families, highlighting deficiencies in the UK healthcare system and the importance of advanced care planning and spiritual support.
Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end-of-life care charity, has joined forces with Hospice UK, National Bereavement Alliance, Sue Ryder, and Together for Short Lives to petition the government for enhanced care for terminally ill individuals and their families. The coalition is advocating for improvements in physical comfort, mental health, and financial support, stating that many people in the UK die in pain, poverty, and isolation.
This week, Marie Curie employee Dr. Laura Chapman, a consultant in palliative medicine at the charity’s Liverpool hospice, shared her insights on the concept of a “perfect death” proposed by AI software, ChatGPT. According to ChatGPT, key elements of a good death include peacefulness, preparation, connection and reflection, and spirituality. Dr. Chapman generally agreed with these points but emphasized the deficiencies in the current UK healthcare system, particularly the underfunding and lack of adequate palliative care. She highlighted that one in four people in the UK die without necessary care and support.
Dr. Chapman stressed the importance of advanced care planning, clear communication of wishes, and the intertwined nature of connection and reflection at the end of life. She also noted that spiritual care is vital, regardless of religious affiliation. While recognizing the potential of AI to prompt discussions about end-of-life care, she reaffirmed the importance of personalized and accessible palliative care services.
