本論⽂是⼀個探索性研究，主要探索醫療專業的發展對現代⼈垂死歷程的影響。以往對現代醫療體制的研究，⼤多是由結構，制度⾯著⼿，容易忽略了⾏動者主觀意義的詮釋，本研究乃企圖理解⾏動者認知感受的角度（包括：醬護⼈員，病⼈，病⼈家屬等）。以⼗個癌末病⼈為個案，透過醫院這套儀式化的「死亡處理」在醫療情境中的運作，來反省現今⼀般醫療機構在照顧臨終病⼈所產⽣的問題。本研究進⼀步將近年來國內⼤⼒推廣安寧療護的臨終關懷死亡處理，與⼀般醫療體制下的死亡處理做⼀個對照，問題焦點在比較兩組⾏動者的醫病關係與醫療處置。藉著剖析⼀群被標籤為「快要死的病⼈」，本研究總結指出現今醫療機構的深層問題。

This paper is an exploratory study of the influence of the modern medical profession on the process of dying. This study departs from conventional sociological studies on modern medical institution which have concentrated on analyzing the aspects of structure and/or institution by shifting the focus to the interpretation of the meanings constructed by actors involved in the dying process occurring in a medical institution such as the medical staff, patient, and the patient's family. In examining the cases of dying cancer patients, the paper analyzes how "ritualized" management is given to a dying patient in a medical institution and discusses the essential problems caused by this kind of management. The study further compares the management given to dying patients by a conventional medical institution with that of hospices, which have been increasingly popular in Taiwan in recent years. Focusing on the two sorts of medical management given to dying patients and the professional-patient relationship existing among the actors involved in the process of dying, the paper discusses the major problems encountered by one who is labeled as a "dying patient" by the modern medical profession.

死亡與垂死；癌症病人；安寧療護

death and dying; cancer patient; hospice