On November 14 and 15, the 4th International Congress on Palliative Care took place at the School of Health Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria — a scientific meeting that addressed topics such as community access to palliative care, self-care among professionals who provide this type of care, and the palliative approach within mental health and intensive care. The first day of the congress ended with a moment dedicated to the joint reflection on life and its end, without taboos, entitled “Death Dinner.”

The organizing and scientific committee, chaired by professor and researcher Carlos Laranjeira and which includes researchers Ana Querido, Cristina Costeira or Joel Vitorino, highlights the importance of this part of the program, which “allows people to share their thoughts and wishes regarding the importance of leaving a meaningful mark on their lives and dealing with the finite nature of human existence.”

Throughout the dinner, participants were guided to reflect and interact with one another, dismantling the idea that talking about death is a private or solitary topic, and fostering the exchange of ideas, the sharing of experiences, and learning about how to care not only for those who are leaving, but also for those who remain.