Cicely Saunders

Synopsis

The founder of the St. Christopher's Hospice and of the modern hospice movement, Dame Cicely Saunders' work transformed the management of pain and the care of the dying. This updated biography explores her extraordinary life.

Summary

Chapter 1: Early Life and Influences

* Cicely Saunders was born in 1918 in London, England.
* She grew up in a religious home and was influenced by the work of Albert Schweitzer, a doctor and theologian who devoted his life to serving the sick in Africa.
* Saunders witnessed firsthand the suffering of family members during her childhood, which sparked her desire to pursue a career in medicine.

Example: Saunders' father, a successful businessman, suffered a stroke and died when she was 18. This experience left a lasting impact on her and motivated her to specialize in palliative care for the terminally ill.

Chapter 2: Medical Training and Career

* Saunders studied medicine at St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School in London.
* She worked as a house officer and then as a surgical registrar at St. Thomas' Hospital.
* In 1951, she met Dr. David Tasma, a Polish refugee who had dedicated his life to the care of the terminally ill. Saunders was inspired by Tasma's work and began to develop her own philosophy of palliative care.

Example: Tasma had developed the concept of "total care," which emphasized the importance of attending to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the dying. Saunders adopted and expanded on this principle in her own practice.

Chapter 3: Founding of St. Christopher's Hospice

* In 1967, Saunders founded St. Christopher's Hospice, the first purpose-built hospice in the world.
* The hospice was designed to provide a home-like environment for the terminally ill, where they could receive compassionate care and support.
* Saunders' pioneering work at St. Christopher's revolutionized the way that society viewed death and dying.

Example: St. Christopher's Hospice introduced the concept of palliative care as a distinct medical specialty. Saunders' team of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals provided holistic care that focused on alleviating pain and improving quality of life for their patients.

Chapter 4: Development of Palliative Care

* Saunders dedicated her research and writings to the development of palliative care as a recognized medical discipline.
* She established the Cicely Saunders International Institute of Palliative Care at St. Christopher's Hospice.
* Together with other pioneers in the field, she worked to raise awareness and promote the integration of palliative care into mainstream healthcare systems.

Example: Saunders developed the concept of the "symptom triangle," which identified the three main symptoms that affect terminally ill patients: physical (e.g., pain), psychological (e.g., anxiety), and spiritual (e.g., loss of meaning). She advocated for a holistic approach to symptom management, addressing all three aspects of the patient's experience.

Chapter 5: Legacy and Impact

* Cicely Saunders died in 2005, but her legacy continues to inspire and guide healthcare professionals around the world.
* St. Christopher's Hospice remains a global center of excellence for palliative care.
* Palliative care has become an integral part of healthcare systems in many countries, providing comfort and dignity to millions of terminally ill patients.

Example: The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted Saunders' definition of palliative care: "An approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual."