French Hospital to Open Wine Bar for Terminally-Ill Patients
Italian philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas had once said, "Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine." The quote seems to have influenced a hospital in central France, which has decided to open a wine bar for terminally-ill patients.
The CHU Clermont-Ferrand hospital in Puy-de-Dôme will open the bar at the palliative care center and plans to offer "medically supervised" wine tasting to the patients with serious illness, their friends and relatives.
Dr Virginie Guastella came up with the novel idea in order to relax the seriously-ill patients. "...It's because life is so precious and real until the end that we decided to cultivate all that is fine and good. It's a way of rethinking the care of others, taking into account their feelings and emotions that make them a human being," Dr Guastella, the head of the hospital unit, told The Local.
Citing a study done by socio-anthropologist Catherine Legrand Sebille, Dr Guastella said that fine wine and good food has positive impact on terminally-ill people.
The patients can choose from an array of liquor - wines, champagne and whiskey - which are donated by the locals. The medical staff will be trained before the bar opens its door in September. "It is a way of rethinking the care of others, taking into account their feelings and emotions that make them a human being," Guastella noted.
The Clermont-Ferrand doctors hope that once the bar is successful other French hospitals will too take up the idea, reports The Telegraph.
Certain studies showed that resveratrol, a component found in red wine, is good for health, especially for the heart. But recent studies say that the component is ineffective in reducing health issues.
