ethics

Social media is everywhere; its use has grown exponentially over
recent years. The prevalence of these outlets for communication raises some
interesting and potentially risky issues for physicians. On the one hand, some
believe that physicians should have a strong social media presence and can
benefit greatly from access to a global community of peers and leaders through
blogs, online forums, Facebook, Twitter and other communication channels. Dr
Anne Marie Cunningham provides a strong case for the advantages of developing

King Lear is not limited to a single ethical dilemma but is a play about the suffering of mankind. This paper investigates how elements of Shakespeare’s play might enrich our understanding of the challenges and opportunities of modern end-of-life care. The paper addresses the following key questions:

• How can King Lear inform our understanding of suffering and pain in a clinical context?

• What can King Lear teach the professional in terms of communication with a terminally ill patient and their family?