The moment of death: is hospice making a difference?

The moment of death was a compelling image and dominant concept through much of history. In recent years this term has become destabilized by technological advances and changes in clinical practice. Perhaps even more significantly, the meanings previously associated with the death-bed scene and the final breath have become increasingly marginalized. Hospice programs continue to demonstrate that enlightened and dedicated care can markedly reduce the suffering of terminally ill people and their families. The vast experience acquired by hospice programs, however, has not yet been translated into a vision of the moment of death and the death-bed scene for our times. Several reasons are identified for the limited interest and even more limited hospice-based research into the death-bed scene and the moment of death. Hospice programs could contribute much to our understanding of the final moments of life if this should ever become a priority.