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Changing patterns of death and dying

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  • Seale, Clive

Abstract

This paper reviews changing patterns of mortality worldwide, paying particular attention to differences between developed and developing countries and the consequences of demographic and epidemiological transitions. These involve gains in life expectancy and a shift from infectious to degenerative conditions as causes of death. Reversals to these transitions in certain Eastern European and African countries, due respectively to the social disorganisation accompanying the collapse of communism and to AIDS is described. The implications of changing population structures for the experience of old age and dying are explored and gender and socio-economic differences within countries is highlighted. The current state of knowledge about differences in the dying trajectories of different causes of death is summarised and gaps in this knowledge identified. The availability of lay health care in the community at different points in the demographic transition is described, and the problems and dilemmas of formal health care provision for dying people in both developed and developing countries outlined, including an analysis of the reasons for public support for euthanasia in some Western countries. In particular, the appropriateness of models of specialist palliative care outside the cultures in which such care originally developed is questioned. Finally, there is discussion of the extent to which medical and scientific measures erode traditional religious consolations for the problems involved in dying and bereavement.

Suggested Citation

  • Seale, Clive, 2000. "Changing patterns of death and dying," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(6), pages 917-930, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:51:y:2000:i:6:p:917-930
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    Cited by:

    1. Brown, Tim & Bell, Morag, 2008. "Imperial or postcolonial governance? Dissecting the genealogy of a global public health strategy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(10), pages 1571-1579, November.
    2. Peretti-Watel, P. & Bendiane, M.K. & Moatti, J.P., 2005. "Attitudes toward palliative care, conceptions of euthanasia and opinions about its legalization among French physicians," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(8), pages 1781-1793, April.
    3. Lang, Alexander & Frankus, Elisabeth & Heimerl, Katharina, 2022. "The perspective of professional caregivers working in generalist palliative care on ‘good dying’: An integrative review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    4. Iedema, Rick & Sorensen, Roslyn & Braithwaite, Jeffrey & Flabouris, Arthas & Turnbull, Liz, 2005. "The teleo-affective limits of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 845-857, February.
    5. Joachim Cohen & Paul Landeghem & Nico Carpentier & Luc Deliens, 2014. "Public acceptance of euthanasia in Europe: a survey study in 47 countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(1), pages 143-156, February.
    6. Jakobsson, Eva & Bergh, Ingrid & Ohlen, Joakim & Oden, Anders & Gaston-Johansson, Fannie, 2007. "Utilization of health-care services at the end-of-life," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(3), pages 276-287, August.
    7. Vandrevala, Tushna & Hampson, Sarah E. & Daly, Tom & Arber, Sara & Thomas, Hilary, 2006. "Dilemmas in decision-making about resuscitation--a focus group study of older people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(7), pages 1579-1593, April.
    8. Joanna Broad & Merryn Gott & Hongsoo Kim & Michal Boyd & He Chen & Martin Connolly, 2013. "Where do people die? An international comparison of the percentage of deaths occurring in hospital and residential aged care settings in 45 populations, using published and available statistics," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(2), pages 257-267, April.
    9. Shawn F. Dorius, 2008. "Global Demographic Convergence? A Reconsideration of Changing Intercountry Inequality in Fertility," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 34(3), pages 519-537, September.
    10. Jelle van Gurp & Olaitan Soyannwo & Kehinde Odebunmi & Simpa Dania & Martine van Selm & Evert van Leeuwen & Kris Vissers & Jeroen Hasselaar, 2015. "Telemedicine’s Potential to Support Good Dying in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.

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