Bás Sona
Bás Sona is an Old Irish phrase meaning blessed or happy death. In the Bás Sona Blog, Dr. Kevin Dieter shares compassionate insights, practical advice, and resources for students, health care professionals, families and individuals facing the complexities of End-of-Life care.
Do all the good that you can
Today, I learned of the death of Michael Stillwater , a musician, artist, and healer who was so very instrumental in my development as a hospice physician years ago.
Hubris and humility
As I work my way through an explanation of spiritual pain, recent experiences are compelling me to “back my way in,” as it were. Instead of defining and understanding spiritual pain, I have chosen to share my thoughts about how best to approach someone who is suffering with spiritual pain.
We need more bells (no, not cowbells…)
I feel as though the entire world needs to simultaneously hear a few minutes of just bells. Stop…listen…pay attention. Maybe that would cause a reset for humanity.
The Hidden Curriculum
There have been a few physicians that have validated my growing realization that our opportunity, our duty, our privilege as physicians to be at the bedside of a dying patient needs to be honored, not hidden or denied.
Doing is Being
The Good Listening Project is an organization doing wonders to reduce burnout and strengthen human connection in medical settings. They’ve been a blessing to me.
Why am I here?
There are so ways to think about the answer to the eternal question: Why Am I Here?
Being With Dying
Watch Dr. Dieter tell the remarkable story of how to learned to be with the dying.
The Dying are Our Teachers
The Dying are Our Teachers: After all these years caring for hospice patients, this has become my foundational understanding and teaching.
Facing the Abyss
Our society teaches us to keep thoughts of our death at arm’s length, but what if you could imagine those last days or hours? Would it look like a terrifying abyss or something more peaceful?
Being Present at Work
Entering the sacred space of a dying person, without an agenda, I have often been gifted with the words, advice, insights, and support that the person and family needed. In a sense, I did not know what I would say until I said it.
“Every picture tells a story, don't it?"
The walls have important stories to tell about our patients.
Connecting the Dots — Part 2
"It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back."
Connecting the Dots - Part One
Through the wisdom of the Celts, I was to discover a fundamental understanding of how to approach spiritual pain.
Why do I do this work?
Being present with the dying is an opportunity to receive “final gifts.”
The Walk Home
I promised my father-in-law that I would be there for him when he was dying. That day arrived recently. (Sketch by David Pfendler)
