Recent reports from the Department of Health (2008), the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (2011) and the Commission on Dignity in Care for Older People (2012) have been highly critical regarding the care that some patients have experienced. They have highlighted that fundamental aspects of care are missing resulting in a lack of high quality individualised nursing care, which is in co...

This article reviews the lessons learned from the development and implementation of New York's community approach to advance care planning (ACP) as a wellness initiative and the key components of the complementary programs: Community Conversations on Compassionate Care (CCCC) and Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST). Shared, informed medical decision-making is a patient-centered...

In a 2013 televised address the Chief of the Australian Army, Lt. Gen. David Morrison, said ‘The standard you walk past is the standard you accept’. While Morrison was talking about unacceptable behaviour in the Australian Army at the time, equally there are messages here for those who are involved in managing and leading health services. What is the standard of healthcare expected in Australia...

"Humanistic medicine" is a term compounded, for therapeutic purposes, with the good intent of reminding clinicians of their need to be compassionate and empathic. Although the expression is arresting, and demands thought, it does not go far enough. "Values-based medicine" is a stronger term, reminding clinicians of the sustaining values that underpin the whole health endeavour. These values inc...

William Sibbald was born June 28, 1946, and died September 14, 2006, at his home in Toronto, Ontario, surrounded by his family after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 60 years old. Up until two days before his death, he remained the Physician-in-Chief of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Critical Care and a lifelong dynamic force for the advance...

PURPOSE Evidence suggests that self-compassion may be beneficial to older adults who are struggling to cope with the aging process. The purpose of this study was to assess the thoughts of self-compassionate older adults and to determine whether self-compassionate thoughts relate to positive responses to aging. DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 121, M = 76.2 years, approximately 65% female)...

3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) produces diverse pro-social effects. Cognitive training methods rooted in Eastern contemplative practices also produce these effects through the development of a compassionate mindset. Given this similarity, we propose that one potential mechanism of action of MDMA in psychotherapy is through enhancing effects on intrapersonal attitudes (i.e. pro-so...

Background Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) aim to help people cultivate compassion for self others. To date, there is little evidence exploring the effects CMT has on those engaged in or embarking a career helping professions. Interventions that encourage self-reflection self-practice may practitioners self-compassion, leading promotion of self-care. Aim e...