The Good Death Project is a deeply reflective exploration of death, dying, and the experiences of healthcare professionals who witness it daily, particularly in ICU settings. The book stems from real-life encounters, emotional tolls, and the author's personal journey toward understanding what constitutes a "good death."
The book is structured into thematic parts: it begins with philosophical and emotional considerations of death, moves through the challenges of end-of-life communication, and culminates in powerful real ICU stories. Drawing on over 30 interviews with healthcare workers and loved ones, the author highlights the universal discomfort around death and advocates for open, honest conversations to reduce fear and confusion at life’s end.
Key themes include the emotional burden faced by clinicians, the inadequacies of end-of-life care in acute settings, the myths around DNACPR, and the taboo surrounding physician-assisted dying. The book integrates UK palliative care principles and religious-cultural perspectives to define a “good death” as one marked by dignity, peace, choice, and compassion.
True stories of patients from different walks of life, bring the narrative alive. They underscore the importance of timely communication, cultural sensitivity, and compassionate care. Through these, the book becomes a poignant call to normalise conversations around death, support families better, and redefine what it means to care at the end of life.
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Dr Lubaina Bahar
Dr Lubaina Bahar is a consultant in Intensive Care Medicine with a deep interest in the human experience of death and dying. With years of frontline experience in critical care, she has been both a witness and a participant in some of life’s most profound moments—when life ends and what remains is memory, meaning, and grief. Her work is shaped not only by clinical expertise but also by a compassionate curiosity about the emotional, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of end-of-life care. Dr Bahar is passionate about making conversations around death more open, humane, and thoughtful—for healthcare professionals and the wider public alike. The Good Death is her fourth book born from personal reflection, professional encounters, and the shared stories of those who have faced death up close.
