The Institute of Medicine defines a good death a “one that is free from avoidable death and suffering for patients, families and caregivers in general accordance with the patients’ and families’ wishes.”
The components of good death include: being free of pain, surrounded by family, free of conflict, acceptance of death, stopping of curative treatment, being at peace, and preferably dying at home.
It implies that one can define a good death and should be able to achieve it.
Hanks G, Cherny NI, Christakis NA, Fallon M, Kaasa S, Portenoy RK (Eds). Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. Oxford University Press, 4th ed, 2010. pp. 138.
