Death and dying in western nations have been socially marginalized in recent decades. Since life is no longer under an imminent threat by wars and epidemics, the process of dying has been shifting into the seclusion of professional health care institutions. On the other hand there has been a development towards endless sustainment and a lack of awareness for the inevitability of one´s death. This new situation adds to the regular medical care of terminally ill patients an additional mindfulness for their social, ethical and spiritual needs. The version of “spiritual care” discussed below aims at a mutual strategy to combine medical care, ethics and pastoral ministry.
