“Living in peace the final process of life is a human right”

World reference in palliative careyes, Saverio Gomez-Batiste is the scientific director of the ‘Comprehensive care program for people with advanced diseases ” of the Foundation ‘la Caixa’. The program, which since its launch in 2008 has implemented 65 psychosocial care teams, with nearly 300 professionals, e served more than 600,000 peoplebetween patients and relatives, this week brought together the entire psychosocial team at CaixaForum Valencia to continue to deepen Systemic look at complete assistance to people at the end of life.

Is palliative care at the end of life a right?

It must be. It is a fundamental human right. But we find that many times psychosocial and spiritual assistance is not included in the service portfolio. That is why we emphasize multidimensional and multidisciplinary care that addresses the physical and emotional, social, spiritual and ethical needs of patients and their families.

A dignified death?

There are several words we need to save. One is dignity at the end of life, which has sometimes been associated with euthanasia, but in reality it is an end lived with dignity and respected by others.

What other words should we save?

Compassion and spirituality. Compassion is a humanistic sentiment, not strictly religious. It is the individual human response to accompany suffering. Spirituality also transcends religion, it has to do with one’s life which has meaning and beliefs. People with beliefs and beliefs live better with advanced disease than those who don’t. What we have done in the program is to professionalize it and make the patient find meaning in her life.

What are the objectives of the program?

Improve unmet social needs, fill that hole. The mission of the program is to care for and support people who have advanced illnesses and whose psychosocial, spiritual and ethical needs are not being met because, as I said, this topic is little or not at all addressed. The goal is to improve the quality of life and the reception and adaptation to advanced disease of the person who suffers from it and their family members, to encourage the end of life process to be lived peacefully, but also to be seen as a right. This is why it was very important to generate tests and experiences, with an innovative model of care and organization. And we have. Now is the time to knock on the door of the Public Administration and explain that what is not covered, we know how to solve. We have evidence that organized compassion is affectionate and efficient. If we want to move towards a caring and compassionate society, this is the way.

How can you die in peace?

Good question! We are carrying out a research project and we have defined some parameters that allow us to live the process of dying in peace: the meaning of life in its beliefs and values; the effective support of the family and the environment and of the most direct relationships; symptom control; the legacy that has remained; autonomy, power to decide; personal characteristics, if you are optimistic, for example; and finally, the guarantee of good care. The ideal result of our program would be that people, at least insofar as it depends on the environment, can experience the process of death in peace.

Who needs the most attention, the patient or the families?

We don’t serve patients, we serve families who have a patient. Sometimes there are families who suffer more than the patient himself. For example, the reception phases are not only valid for the patient, but also for the family or the more direct environment, especially if there are much more vulnerable people. The family needs emotional support, education and help to know how to respond, how to care, and it is essential because the patient needs his family to know how to do it. Support is also needed to identify bereavement risk and prevent complicated bereavement. It is a systemic view, which is the most advanced and communitarian view of palliative care. If both the family and the patient’s relational environment are aware of how they can help in an advanced disease situation, the chances of receiving support multiply.

When should we start preparing for death?

As the British say… it’s too early until it’s too late. Since this thing of dying is a fairly common thing, let’s talk about it, do pedagogy, and involve the whole of society.