TITLE:
For the love and respect of the service: Applied aesthetics and palliative care
AUTHORS:
Marcia Brennan
KEYWORDS:
Palliative Medicine; End of Life; Psychosocial Oncology; Aesthetics; Communication; Spirituality
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering,
Vol.6 No.10A,
October
15,
2013
ABSTRACT: In this article, the author discusses her experiences as an artist in residence in the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Emphasis is placed on applied aesthetics in palliative care and their implications for addressing communication, spiritual, and health care issues for military service members. Drawing on six vivid case studies, the author examines the various ways in which end of life narratives can shed valuable light on key issues concerning individuals’ life experiences in the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force. These cherished images strengthened people’s spirits at the end of life, and each of the men told their stories with pride.