The hospital where staff treat fear of death as well as physical pain

René Damgaard, 67, lies in a hospital bed in the palliative care unit at Hvidovre hospital outside Copenhagen. It’s the first evening of May, and the window is open, letting mild air and the sound of a blackbird singing into the room. “This is the kind of weather you love the most. When you usually stand and fish at the sandbank,” says his niece, 53-year-old Mette Damgaard. She is leaning over the bed, her face very close to his. She has been sitting like this for a long time. René has his eyes closed, and his mouth is slightly open. The evening light falls across his gaunt face, and he looks as though he is sleeping. He is not; he is dying. “I will take care of you,” Mette whispers. He nods. She strokes his hand and squeezes it. “You can let go now, René.” There is a moment of silence. Then he whispers: “Remember to say goodbye to everyone from me.” “I will, René. I promise.” The way we die is a topic of a heated debate in Denmark, as in many other countries including the UK. ... Read full article.