Setty Hogelucht: A light for the terminally ill in Gronau!

Setty Hogelucht: A light for the terminally ill in Gronau!

Setty Hogelucht is a name that comes up again and again in the Borken district, especially when it comes to the sensitive support of terminally ill people. Hogelucht dedicates himself to this challenging task with deep conviction and has developed an impressive ability to understand and respect the needs and wishes of his patients in his profession as a palliative care nurse. In an interview with the Westfälische Nachrichten it becomes clear how important empathy and a caring attitude are in palliative care, especially at a time when dealing with death wishes is increasingly coming into focus. According to wn.de, Hogelucht's central concern is to give those affected the space they need to talk about their thoughts about dying.

But what happens when patients simultaneously feel a wish to die and the will to live? This complex situation is one of the central issues that also concerns healthcare. Since the abolition of §217 StGB, questions about how to deal with death wishes have become more present than ever. Employees in palliative care often face challenges when it comes to recognizing and supporting these wishes. The Palliative Care Center of the University Hospital of Cologne has therefore published a newly developed short questionnaire that makes it easier to measure death wishes.

The research behind deaths and life wishes

The research group “Dealing with Death Wishes” at the University Hospital of Cologne, led by Dr. Kerstin Kremeike and Prof. Dr. Raymond Voltz has been working on this topic for years. Through several internationally published studies, the understanding of the relationship between death wishes and the will to live is constantly being deepened. The latest data shows that around 15% of the cases examined show a simultaneous high or low desire to die and the will to live. These findings come, among other things, from a secondary analysis of 85 patients receiving palliative care. The studies shed light on how both phenomena can change over a period of six weeks and what role psychological factors and life situations play in this.

One of the results is particularly revealing: the research group has developed a questionnaire that specifically deals with the desire for premature death. This so-called SAHD-10 includes ten items that are statistically validated and enable easy application for clinical use and research. Anyone interested can use the German-language questionnaire free of charge to gain a better understanding of the complex ideas surrounding the will to live and die.

Respectful interaction is required

What can nurses do to respond to these wishes respectfully? As Hogelucht works in his profession, it is important to develop a sensitivity to the individual needs and fears of patients. This ability is of great value, especially at a time when the desire for assisted suicide is also being actively discussed in Germany. The recommendations of the Federal Constitutional Court to strengthen suicide prevention are an important guideline. The aim is to take those affected seriously in their wishes and at the same time to promote respectful interaction.

The findings from research and the experiences of people like Setty Hogelucht help to facilitate dialogue about life and death wishes. In palliative care, it is crucial to accompany those affected with empathy and understanding in order to support them in one of the most difficult phases of their lives.