“Personhood,” not “Patienthood”: Tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative care

“Personhood,” not “Patienthood”:  Tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative care
IAHPC, by Kim Adzich, MD; 4/1/24 
One of Dame Cicely Saunders’ foundational tenets of palliative care is embodied in her words, “You matter because you are you, and you matter until the last moment of your life.” Dignity is the inherent worthiness of being human, of mattering until that last breath. But how do we ensure that we reflect that inherent dignity back to those in our care? Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, having dedicated decades to researching and teaching dignity-conserving care, ... [offers] a few thoughts on how we can foster that sense of dignity and uniqueness in those we care for as they near the end of life.