Réflexion éthique autour des enjeux de la relation soignant-soigné lors d'un accompagnement de fin de vie en EHPAD

This article discusses the difficult problems encountered by health care teams in nursing homes when dealing with end-of-life situations. In this care setting, residents are invested psychologically with the affects of all human beings together with the physical care provided by the care team. As emphasized by Bernard Matray, care cannot be delivered at a distance, neither from the body nor from the heart. Thus, the end-of-life situations can be particularly difficult for the caregivers who may have a hard time establishing the right distance. But, what is the right distance in geriatrics where old age, disease and death are part of everyday life? We present here a discussion among team members as part of an ethical approach to communication designed to help each participant invest in his/her own experience. We propose different points of view as seen by the care team as a whole and by each individual member.