Hospice news

Dame Cicely Saunders, regarded as the founder of the modern hospice movement and a pioneer in the field of palliative care, died peacefully on July 14, 2005, at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London. She was 87. The founder of St. Christopher’s Hospice, Dame Cicely dedicated her life and professional work to alleviating the pain and suffering of the dying. St. Christopher’s opened its doors in 1967 and provided a model of care that gave birth to one of the most significant grassroots movements of the late 20th century in the United States. Her guiding principle was “to cure sometimes, but to comfort always.” Fittingly, Dame Cicely was cared for as a patient at St. Christopher’s Hospice for some time before her death. “Dame Cicely’s vision and work has transformed the care of the dying and the practice of medicine in the UK and throughout the world,” said Barbara Monroe, current Chief Executive of St. Christopher’s. “She is an inspiration to us all. Her influence will carry on around the world as we work together in hospice and palliative care to support dying people and those close to them.” Working as a nurse during World War II, Dame Cicely later became a social worker and then went on to medical school to become a physician. As a physician, she felt she could make the greatest impact by improving the culture of care for people at the end of life. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1980. In 1987, she was appointed to the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Limited to only 24 persons, this order is the highest honor the monarch can bestow. “Few people can go to their rest having done more to relieve suffering and to advance compassion in the world than Dame Saunders. She was our matriarch and our guiding light, never wavering in her quest to advance care for the dying,” said Stephen Connor, Vice President for Research and International Development at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “According to our colleagues at St. Christopher’s, she died today peacefully in the hospice she founded. No one could be more deserving.” The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, along with the NHPCO, the National Hospice Foundation, and the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa extend their deepest sympathies to Dame Cicely’s family, friends, and colleagues the world over and honor her for her special gifts and contributions that improved the way we live and die.