Medicalization of death and palliative care

Abstract

Objective: to reflect on the historical process of the medicalization of death, and on how palliative care can modify this scenario. Content: the starting point was the discussion of how the process of medicalization of society and death has occurred over the centuries, then to examine the palliative care proposal, and discuss how this approach can promote the demedicalization of dying. Conclusion: the medicalization of death, a process that has become established over the centuries, gained strength through the hospital-centered model of health care. On the other hand, the palliative care proposal offers the possibility of a paradigm shift towards coexisting with life-threatening diseases and the process of dying, because its aim is to improve individuals’ quality of life according to their own priorities by favoring their autonomy. Palliative care can thus promote the de-medicalization of death.