Health-promoting palliative care arrives in Scotland

Abstract

Openness about death and dying has been seen as beneficial for dying patients and their families ever since the pioneering work of Cicely Saunders in the 1960s. Despite this, death and dying is still a taboo subject in most European countries. In 2003, a survey of the Scottish public reported that most people felt society did not discuss death and dying in a 'realistic way' and considered the subject of death as taboo. The survey called for further engagement with the public to promote open discussion about death and dying.