The good death between consensus and paradoxes: perspectives of various stakeholders including persons nearing death

The idea of what constitutes a good death has changed throughout history. Modern death is defined by professional, medical or technological interventions. No study has investigated the idea of a ‘good death’ from the perspective of those facing it, such as those towards the end of their life and those caring for them, since a law permitting euthanasia in Quebec, Canada, was passed. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the idea of a ‘good death’ is perceived by those who are nearing death, their supportive decision-makers, geriatricians, and other healthcare allies. In three geriatric medical care units, we conducted a study that included 16 focused interviews. The results demonstrate that support, comfort, a proper environment and lack of discomfort and distress were prevalent emerging themes. The findings revealed paradoxes surrounding two themes – being conscious during and a speed of dying. Participants’ opinions on what constitutes a ‘good death’ varied depending on whether they were talking about their own deaths or the deaths of others. We draw the conclusion that euthanasia enables the fulfilment of many of the characteristics that can characterise a ‘good death’ in our postmodern culture and urge the establishment of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care provided at home.