University of Melbourne course the first to education students about death and dying

Many people find it tough to talk about death and dying, and it’s no different for those in the medical profession. Now, a new course is teaching future doctors how to change that.

Hannah Gould describes herself as a researcher of death and dying, while to others she is the professor of death.

The anthropologist by trade is not fazed by titles as long as it gets people talking about the d-word: death. A topic she says most people are anxious about and few in the medical profession are at ease discussing.

Dr Gould wants to help change that.

She has co-designed a world-first course at the University of Melbourne providing death education as part of its Doctor of Medicine program.

“Talking about death is pretty tough for doctors, for trainee doctors in particular,” Dr Gould says. “Because for them medicine promises to fix illness, even death, and if it doesn’t that’s on them.”

Death and dying researcher Dr Hannah Gould. Picture: Wayne Taylor

It is offered as an elective subject and already attracting international attention. A recent visitor was the former president of the British Medical Association Sir Al Aynsley-Green who is keen to help take the idea to a global audience.

“The concept of death is shrouded in taboo and the lack of education in this space is leading to clinicians being vastly underprepared when entering the workforce,” Dr Gould said.

“The aim of this subject is to break down the societal stigma by bridging the gap between our healthcare and deathcare systems.”

She says many medical students have never had anyone close to them die so they don’t have a lot of experience with death and dying.

“And in a couple of years, they’re going to be responsible for communicating that to families.”

Dr Gould would like to see the course become a compulsory component of medical degrees nationally. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Dr Gould would like to see the course become a compulsory component of medical degrees nationally.

“If not the full 12 weeks then at least some more concentration on death and dying in the core medicine program,” Dr Gould says.

Current course students are already helping to spread the world.

Paris Matthews and Isabelle Ewert have launched a website and podcast to help change the culture around dying, death, grief and bereavement through upskilling the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Ms Matthews says they want to help fill the gap by having frank discussions on the podcast as well as providing links to educational resources that can provide support under the one roof.

Dr Hannah Gould says health professional should have honest, clear conversations about death with patients and their families.

The curriculum, developed by experts including those working in palliative care, gerontology as well as medical clinicians, covers topics such as how to navigate end-of-life medical decision-making, cremation and burial processes, the importance of cultural sensitivity and compassionate communication.

Dr Gould says key for health practitioners is to deliver information to patients and families in clear language that is honest and compassionate.

“Use the D word, use the word death,” she tells students.

Dr Gould says it is natural for people to have a fear of death.

“We are not trying to make out (in death education) that death is a great thing. Most people don’t want to die and it is going to be to some degree painful, some suffering and sad.

“(This course) is about accepting that. The message is not to treat death as good or bad, but as part of the job.”

Originally published as University of Melbourne course the first to education students about death and dying