The changing face of dying in Australia

Abstract

Australians have traditionally shied away from defining and expressing ideas about dying. Our perceptions of dying are derivative of English and North American attitudes. Debate continues on the subject of palliative care versus euthanasia: the increasing tendency to see palliative care as clinical care at the end of life reassures some, but perturbs others whose main concern is "dying with dignity". Perspectives on dying will be inadequate as long as they remain technical, clinical and institutional.