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A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context
Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613572273537024 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Dreyer, Yolanda |
| author_browse | Dreyer, Yolanda |
| author_facet | Dreyer, Yolanda |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101484 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:16.420Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101484 A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context Dreyer, Yolanda u16272154@tuks.co.za Botha, Bonitta UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pastoral care Euthanasia Geriatric palliative care Narrative therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy Theology theses SDG-03 Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Pastoral counsellors have a significant role to fulfil in end-of-life care, especially when faced with a patient’s request for euthanasia. South Africa has limited palliative care services due to insufficient funding. That complicates the integration of palliative care into the public healthcare system. Older terminal patients find themselves in a tenuous position if their healthcare needs cannot be fully addressed. As they face the end of their lives, they encounter physical, social, identity, and developmental challenges. Understanding these challenges is important if adequate holistic end-of-life care is to be provided for them. However, conventional palliative care approaches prove to be rather limited, especially when it comes to alleviating suffering. This situation can prompt a desire for euthanasia. In South Africa, euthanasia is illegal, which creates obstacles to obtaining life-ending interventions. One of the prevalent factors is the country's strong religious foundation. Traditional Christian teachings generally oppose euthanasia on the grounds of the ‘sanctity of life’ and trust in divine providence. There are, however, Christians believers who regard euthanasia as a last resort to alleviating unbearable suffering when all other avenues have been exhausted. When a decision about euthanasia must be made, a comprehensive assessment of the patient's understanding, reasoning, and abilities has to be made. Mental health issues and interpersonal problems contribute to a person’s desire to die. When such factors are not addressed, euthanasia can be used as a way to remove suffering at all costs. Ethical and theological concerns about the use of euthanasia include whether the older person has given informed consent. If depression and relationship problems have been adequately addressed, it can reduce a person's desire for death. This study develops a pastoral approach to euthanasia requested by an older person in an end-of-life-situation. It integrates insights from narrative and cognitive-behavioural therapy with insights from pastoral narrative counselling and spiritual guidance. The aim is to provide effective pastoral support in an end-of-life situation to people who struggle with feelings of depression. The aim is further to provide comfort and facilitate constructive social relationships. The study focuses specifically on addressing a request for euthanasia by a geriatric palliative care patient in the South African context from a pastoral perspective. Practical Theology PhD (Practical Theology) Unrestricted Faculty of Theology and Religion SDG-03: Good heatlh and well-being 2025-03-13T13:12:21Z 2025-03-13T13:12:21Z 2025-04 2024-08 Thesis * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101484 Disclaimer Letter en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pastoral care Euthanasia Geriatric palliative care Narrative therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy Theology theses SDG-03 A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title | A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title_full | A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title_fullStr | A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title_full_unstemmed | A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title_short | A pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a South African context |
| title_sort | pastoral approach to euthanasia in geriatric palliative care in a south african context |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Pastoral care Euthanasia Geriatric palliative care Narrative therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy Theology theses SDG-03 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101484 |