| Stein Kaasa |
 Born in Oslo in 1953, Stein Kaasa delayed entry to medical school, preferring to gain grass roots health care experience through
stints of auxiliary nursing with both elderly and mentally ill patients. Stein Kaasa undertook his medical training in both
Norwegian and US medical schools, followed by spells in the Military and general practice. His interest in palliative care
relates back to his work in oncology, particularly with patients on a lung cancer ward where he developed a concern for patients'
quality of life within the intensely active, heroic curing ethos of chemotherapy treatment. Despite opposition from hospital
colleagues, Stein Kaasa continued his interest in Quality of Life and palliative oncology. Stein Kaasa was awarded a research
grant from the Norwegian Cancer Society in 1991-92 for research into Quality of Life assessment, and in 1993 obtained a Professorship
in Palliative Oncology at Trondheim University. He had been interested in hospice since the mid 1980s, and at Trondheim was
able to develop these ideas. In 1994 the unit began taking in-patients. The interview discusses research and education, staffing,
community/hospital liaison, home care, and contrasts British hospices with models of care developing in Norway.
|
| Interview conducted by David Clark, 25 September 1995 |
| Interview Duration: 1 hour, 27 minutes |
|
