A compassionate healthcare team providing end-of-life care.

The Art of Dying Well: How End-of-Life Care Can Transform Healthcare

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Discover how focusing on compassion, communication, and individual needs in end-of-life care can revolutionize the entire healthcare system."

In their professional lives, every physician will be responsible for caring for those at the end of their lives. In the final year of life, people require healthcare and social services more frequently than at any other time. According to recent Scottish studies, 30% of hospital patients are in their final year of life, and 9% of those individuals pass away while hospitalized. Even more alarmingly, end-of-life care accounts for 50% of all hospital complaints.

People who are dying have a broad spectrum of physical, emotional, psychological, and social needs. The system that supports them is often complex and under significant strain. Individuals nearing the end of their lives may need coordinated health and social care from a variety of sources, including primary care, out-of-hours services, ambulance and patient care services, acute and community hospitals, care homes, and other local authority and voluntary sector services. Effective communication is essential, but often lacking. While performance frameworks and governance structures are necessary, they can sometimes interfere with providing excellent care. Trust in end-of-life care can be easily broken for patients and their loved ones, as demonstrated by the recent discontinuation of the Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway (LCP).

So, how can caring for the dying become a benchmark for true healthcare?

The Power of Human Connection in End-of-Life Care

A compassionate healthcare team providing end-of-life care.

People consistently emphasize the critical role of human connection with healthcare staff as the defining element of their experiences. Tommy Whitelaw, in a letter dated September 3, 2014, recounts a touching experience: 'Like the District Nurse who put her arm around me one day when I was in tears and said, You're doing ok Tom you're doing ok. I can't tell you how much I needed someone to do that as I was scared of what was happening and scared of letting my mum down.' This emphasizes that compassionate support can be transformative during difficult times.

These are the individuals who effect change through their support, compassion, and comprehension, and it is important to recognize them so that others will take note and emulate them. It’s people who change lives through their help, kindness and understanding and it is important to celebrate this so that others notice and follow. Above and beyond policies, strategies, and reports, it is people who have the potential to transform people's lives throughout what can be a very difficult and lonely journey.

Show genuine care and empathy.
Listen actively and respond to their concerns.
Offer reassurance and emotional support.
Treat patients with dignity and respect.

Another poignant reflection comes from a doctor, writing in the summer of 2014, about the care her mother received: 'The staff in the hospital showed compassion, all of them. They were, of course, professional and I could see evidence of the myriad of forms and processes that are required of them to demonstrate adherence to best practice in cleanliness, safety, nutrition, skin and bowel care etc. However for Mum and me it was the kindness, the compassion, the small touches that made these last few days an extension of a life lived well and enabled mum to have the death that she wished: one of minimal fuss, minimal intervention and one of immense dignity. It is the very essence of the humanity of our colleagues that makes the difference to people when it is their turn to be a patient. Everyone saw mum as her, not her disease, her condition, her pain.' This illustrates that while clinical skills are crucial, the human element significantly enhances the patient's experience.

Embracing Humanity in Healthcare: A Call to Action

To ensure patients remain at the heart of healthcare, clinicians must prioritize their own humanity and spirituality. Reflecting on our impact allows us to continuously improve and provide truly patient-centered care, especially during end-of-life situations. By integrating compassion, communication, and respect into every aspect of care, we can transform healthcare into a system that values and honors the individual needs of each patient. If we can achieve this consistently, everywhere, for everyone, we can truly claim end-of-life care as a paradigm for exceptional healthcare.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4997/jrcpe.2014.404, Alternate LINK

Title: Care Of The Dying As A Paradigm For True Healthcare

Subject: Education

Journal: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Publisher: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Authors: E Ireland

Published: 2014-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why is end-of-life care considered such a critical area for improvement within the broader healthcare system?

End-of-life care is critical because individuals in their final year require healthcare and social services more frequently than at any other time. A significant portion of hospital patients are in their final year, and a large percentage of hospital complaints are related to end-of-life care. Improving end-of-life care means addressing a period of intense need and high vulnerability, thus enhancing the overall quality and compassion within healthcare. Focus and improvements in end-of-life care can extend to all care provided.

What key elements define compassionate end-of-life care, and how do they differ from standard medical practices?

Compassionate end-of-life care is characterized by genuine care and empathy, active listening and response to patient concerns, reassurance and emotional support, and treating patients with dignity and respect. These elements focus on the human connection and emotional well-being of the patient, often contrasting with standard medical practices that may prioritize clinical procedures and protocols. The emphasis on humanity helps ensure that individuals are seen as people, not just diseases or conditions, making the care patient-centered.

What was the 'Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway (LCP),' and why was its discontinuation significant in the context of end-of-life care?

The 'Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway (LCP)' was a framework designed to provide standardized care for individuals nearing the end of their lives. Its discontinuation is significant because it highlighted a breakdown in trust and raised questions about the effectiveness of overly structured approaches to end-of-life care. The LCP's discontinuation underscores the need for flexibility, individualization, and strong communication in end-of-life care, rather than rigid adherence to protocols that may not meet the unique needs of each patient.

How can healthcare professionals prioritize their own humanity and spirituality to improve end-of-life care for their patients?

Healthcare professionals can prioritize their own humanity and spirituality by reflecting on the impact they have on their patients and continuously seeking ways to improve. This involves cultivating empathy, practicing active listening, and recognizing the importance of emotional and psychological support. By embracing their own humanity, clinicians can provide truly patient-centered care that values and honors the individual needs of each person, ensuring that compassion and respect are integrated into every aspect of treatment.

Beyond medical interventions, what role does human connection play in end-of-life care, and what impact can it have on patients and their families?

Human connection plays a crucial role in end-of-life care, often defining the overall experience for patients and their families. Simple acts of compassion, such as a nurse offering a comforting word or staff demonstrating genuine care, can provide immense emotional support and reassurance. This human element helps patients feel seen, heard, and valued, ensuring they experience dignity and minimizing feelings of loneliness and fear. For families, it can provide comfort knowing their loved one is receiving care that addresses their emotional and psychological needs in addition to their physical ones.