No one should die alone on our watch

Abstract

Dying alone has never been a normative event in our society. The coronavirus pandemic has precipitously created an environment of fear and panic, leading to the elimination of the dying vigil as a societal spiritual norm. Many patients have died, and continue to die, alone in their beds without their families or loved ones. Protection of healthcare workers and mitigation of legal liability are purported to be valid justifications for policies that have implemented these restrictions. Yet, historically, the death vigil has been a highly valued event, and seen as an act of community and a spiritual event, in which the person is recognised as more than just a note in the medical record. Two institutions developed policies that respect the death vigil while simultaneously remaining postured to protect healthcare workers. These institutions defied the current trend observed in many clinical environments and refused to let patients die alone.