Rescuing beyond cure

Adapting rescue fantasies in palliative care

Bibliographic Data

ID12096575
AuthorsMichal Mahat-Shamir (0000-0002-3630-5573, Ariel University, corresponding author), Manal Msarwa (Head of Social Services, Hartzfeld Hospital), Yael Doft (0009-0001-7790-3684, Ariel University)
Year2025
Pages1-11
Publication date2025-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeath Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0748-1187 • E-ISSN: 1091-7683
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07481187.2025.2510480
PMID40434317
OpenAlexW4410819865
LanguageEN
References cited31

Rescue fantasies, or the desire to "save" patients, are common among healthcare providers. However, in palliative care, when curing is not an option, these fantasies may conflict with the realities of end-of-life care. This study explores how palliative care staff modify their rescue fantasies to align with the unique characteristics of their work. Thirteen staff members from an Israeli hospital's palliative care unit participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants acknowledged the impossibility of saving patients' lives in palliative care, yet did not entirely abandon their rescue fantasies. Instead, these fantasies were adapted into two distinct themes: (a) rescuing patients' quality of life, and (b) rescuing patients' families. By shifting their focus from saving lives to enhancing quality of life and supporting families, staff members navigate the emotional challenges of their work while maintaining their professional identities

Palliative care · Psychotherapist · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology