Dying and Death in Oncology

Lawrence Berk, a radiation oncologist, completed a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Yale University studying the high field conductivity of aqueous solutions and then researched batteries and fuel cells for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He then studied medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked in private practice and in academics, and he is currently Professor and Chief of Radiation Oncology at the Morsani School of Medicine of the University of South Florida. His research has been in palliative care and symptom management. He has led national trials studying brain metastases, cancer cachexia and radiation esophagitis. Dr. Berk is board certified in both Radiation Oncology and Palliative Medicine. He has previously served as Vice Chair of the US National Cancer Institute-funded cooperative research organization the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and as the Chair of the Symptom Management Committee of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. He also served on the National Cancer Institute’s PDQ Board for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He has published numerous articles in areas ranging from the polio vaccine trials in 1935, to the epidemiology of toilet training and to preventing side effects of radiation therapy and the palliative treatment of cancer patients.

Introduction to Oncologic Thanatology.- Pathophysiology of Death.- Common Causes  of Death of Cancer Patients.- Definitions of Death- Historical and Current.- Ethics of Death.- Economics of Death.- Legal Aspects of Death.- Predicting death.- Medical Care of the Dying Patient.- Spiritual Care of the Dying Patient.- Communicating with the Dying Patient and Family.- Bereavement - Death and the Survivors.- The Afterlife - Common Religious Representations of Life After Death.