By Fiona Cooper
The Kent Messenger
SITTINGBOURNE, England — A Sittingbourne paramedic has contributed to a book tackling the complexities of death.
Louise Massen, whose perspective on death altered as she watched her mother die, was approached by author Jennifer Worth after speaking at national conference on the issue of end of life care.
Her experiences as a paramedic and working with the ambulance service are included the author’s latest book, In the Midst of Life.
The book explores the issues surrounding how people die and looks at the ways in which perceptions of death have changed over the years as well as euthanasia, resuscitation of the dying, the artificial prolongation of life and force-feeding.
Difficult
Louise, who works for the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SECAmb), said: “I was absolutely delighted to be asked to provide an ambulance perspective to this book.
“I hope that the people who read it get a better understanding that while our role is primarily to save lives, we also have a role to play in providing palliative care and supporting relatives through what can be a very distressing and difficult time.”
Louise’s interest in the issue of end of life care - outlined in the book - came after the difficult time she and her family underwent when her mother, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, died two years ago, aged 60.
As her mother’s life drew to its end, Louise and her brother, also a paramedic, discussed how, if they received a call from a patient of a similar age, unconscious and suffering breathing problems, they would have done everything to save their life.
She said: “The death of my mother was without a doubt the most life-altering event I have lived through. “It was a truly desperate feeling watching my mum dying, aching to swing into action and ‘do my paramedic stuff’, when I knew there was absolutely nothing I could do to prevent her death.
“It gave my brother and I a whole new perspective on death and how it affects those it leaves behind.”
As a result of her experience, Louise has championed end of life care issues within the trust.
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