Paradigm and the Caring of Terminal Stage Patient: An Analytic, Appreciative and Applicative Study

Abstract

Although current patient care is primarily founded on postmodern philosophy, when confronted with illnesses, both caregivers and patients have varying views based on diverse paradigms. As a result, the researcher is questioning whether the moderate postmodern philosophy can be used with terminally ill patients. The study aims at analyzing, appreciating, and applying the care of terminally ill patients based on moderate postmodern philosophy. The study adopts the dialectical method, which is the process of exchanging ideas with people who believe in postmodern philosophy and the researcher as well as those who support the researcher's position. The obtained data are analyzed by content analysis.

From the study, it is found that the opposing side holds that because it is a trustworthy and international process, the care of terminally ill patients must only apply postmodern philosophy. However, the researcher believes that the care of terminally ill patients should apply moderate postmodern philosophy because postmodern philosophy ignores ethics in caring and impedes creative thinking, whereas moderate postmodern philosophy promotes critical thinking and encourages both caregivers and patients to exercise four powers namely creativity, adaptability, cooperation, and seeking. This includes adhering to the three types of courage in order to achieve the highest goal in life and being able to accept illness as it is.