What influences our experiences at the end of life? In this insightful article from The Conversation, Dr. Michelle Riba—director of the Psycho-Oncology Program at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center—explores the complex factors that come into play during this profound stage of life. Prompted in part by reflections on Pope Francis’ death shortly after Easter, she highlights how finding meaning can be just as vital as medical care, the powerful impact of a patient’s will to live on treatment and survival, and the ways in which doctors support a sense of agency and control. Read on to discover how patients and caregivers often collaborate to navigate, and even delay, the process of dying.
