| dc.description.abstract | It is probably true that „death is the great equalizer‟ amongst human beings and that some of its „cousins: illness, dementia, physical debility, and advance age‟2 can ensure a journey marked by severe pain and suffering before we reach our ultimate fate. Yet, despite this reality most people choose not to think or talk about the issues that affect human beings during the period of life called dying, which is possibly the most vulnerable time in human existence. The limited discussions on end-of-life issues arguably exacerbate the vulnerability of those who are affected by terminal illnesses. This is unfortunate and particularly of concern in the South African context where there are indications that thousands of people are not enjoying good health and are in fact facing life-threatening or potentially life-threatening medical diagnoses. | en_US |
