大象传媒

鈥淭he concept of dignity as used in the healthcare sector is often criticized for being vague and indistinct. The aim of this book is to make the concept clearer. We aim to discuss important factors that contribute to promote and preserve dignity of vulnerable human beings, says postdoctoral fellow Oscar Tranv氓g at the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care at the

聽The book "Stories of Dignity within Healthcare, Research, narratives and theories," where Tranv氓g is the first editor, presents a series of stories that illuminate dignity in care within the healthcare sector. Dignity in care for patients with dementia is investigated, so is dignity for the dying, dignity for cancer patients, and dignity for health care professionals themselves.

Furthermore the book shows how healthcare professionals through education can learn dignity-preserving care. The authors of the various chapters discuss the stories in light of recent research and theories of dignity.聽

Kierkegaard鈥檚 perspective of the art of helping

鈥╓e asked the editor of the book what human dignity is.

鈥淪酶ren Kierkegaard has a concept of the art of helping that illustrates this well. Kierkegaard says: 鈥淚f One Is Truly to Succeed in Leading a Person to a聽Specific Place, One Must First and Foremost Take Care to聽Find Him Where He is and Begin There.鈥� This is the secret in the entire art of helping,鈥� says Tranv氓g.

鈥淚 share Kierkegaard's vision. True care is only possible through finding the other 鈥渋n the place鈥� where he or she is. It is important that healthcare professionals not only understand the patient from their own perspective, but also from the patient鈥檚 perspective. New knowledge becomes available when seeking the patient's horizon.鈥�

Oscar Tranv氓g also stresses that for good care to be exercised the caregiver must also have enough time, but just as much is good care dependent on a fundamental attitude to the encounter with the patient.鈥ㄢ�≧eal life stories鈥ㄢ�═hrough stories from real life, the authors in the book show how dignity can be preserved in various care situations. To achieve a greater understanding of the stories, various theoretical perspectives on dignity are used in the analysis of them. The theoretical perspectives are rooted in nursing science, caring science and medical philosophy.

According to Tranv氓g it is inevitable that illness and suffering challenge human dignity, and in the face of healthcare, patients and their families find that their dignity is violated. But it can also be cherished.

鈥淭hrough the media, almost daily we get examples of people who feel violated. We also see that we as humans are very concerned about dignity. For example, we hear patients鈥� relatives say; 鈥淢other has to sleep in the bathroom, this is unworthy鈥� or; 鈥渕other had a dignified death鈥�, says Tranv氓g.

Dignity gaining ground鈥ㄢ��

Tranv氓g notes the increasing attention related to the concept of dignity. It has long been a part of health education聽 鈥� and practice, but has nevertheless been criticized for being vague.

鈥淚t appears for instance in various national plans and regulations. In 2011, a regulation on dignified care for older people was established in Norway, with a dignity guarantee. The regulation is based on the term dignity as the key point for the care that elderly will face. However, these regulations do not go into the depth of dignity 鈥� it is merely pointing at basic human needs, for instance that old age patients should have proper living arrangements, and should have a varied and adequate diet,鈥� says Tranv氓g.

He hopes that the new book will both be a contribution to the field of healthcare education, healthcare practice, and also influence politics.
鈥ㄢ�淚n Sweden and Finland there are large caring science traditions in exploring dignity and dignity in care, where especially Finnish-Swedish Katie Eriksson is a major contributor. In Norway caring science, and scientific research on dignity-preserving care is gaining impact.鈥�

An old question鈥ㄢ��

What constitutes dignity, is an old debate. Already in the 15th century the philosopher Giovanni Pico was concerned with dignity. In the 18th century Immanuel Kant contributed further to the understanding of dignity.

In modern times dignity got new and central attention after WW2 when the Declaration of Human Rights was formulated. Tranv氓g believes that we need increased awareness and a more precise understanding of what dignity is.鈥�
鈥淵our actions in the face of a human being are coloured by the attitudes you have. Whether your attitudes are conscious, or are hidden from you, it will be expressed through your actions. Your action will therefore never be left there alone 鈥� because your actions and your attitude is usually one and the same,鈥� says Tranv氓g.