Ice cold warning: Foresters advise against staying in the forest!

January 12, 2025 will bring melting snow and icy air, prompting foresters to warn the population to avoid the forest during these days. The day is described as the second Sunday of the new year and also offers a wide range of reading material, including a new puzzle photo for interested readers.

A central topic in this report is an interview with palliative care doctor Hanna Ludwig from the Sana Clinic Remscheid. This conversation is about the challenges and importance of euthanasia as well as the work in the palliative care unit. Ludwig highlights the important role of the outpatient hospice association for those who are grieving and explains the differences in grieving between children and adults.

Palliative medicine and the debate about euthanasia

According to an article by Herder, the topic of dying and death is increasingly anchored in public society and is no longer treated as a seasonal taboo. The aging of society is increasingly leading to a higher number of people dying, which is being exacerbated by medical advances and causing fears. Important aspects, such as health care powers of attorney and living wills, increasingly promote self-determination in the dying process.

Palliative medicine aims to offer pain-relieving treatments as well as psychological and spiritual support. While indirect euthanasia and treatment terminations are legal if consent is given, assisted suicide remains legally unpunished but is morally controversial. A well-known example from 2008 is the case of Roger Kusch, in which he helped a woman die without having to fear legal consequences.

In Germany there are currently around 400 palliative care units and around 6,500 doctors who have an additional qualification in palliative medicine. Nevertheless, there are bottlenecks in capacity. The area of ​​spiritual support is also increasingly being integrated into palliative medicine, with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich offering a special chair for “spiritual care”. It is emphasized that churches should be present in pastoral support in order to ensure pastoral care from trained pastors.

These topics and developments are relevant to the social discussion about support in dying, which raises both medical and ethical questions. Herder's article on palliative medicine and euthanasia provides further information on the challenges and social dialogue.