ABSTRACT
The chapter begins with an introduction to the concepts 'social constructionism', 'action' and 'body' and to sociological theory on late modernity and death. It analyses a discourse on 'the good death' as it appears in the Danish Health Care System. The chapter illustrates lay perspectives on death and the dying. It also illustrates the level in between the societal discourse and the subjective lay perspective – which is where the everyday cultural practice of palliation is found. The palliation specialty is constructed within specific social conditions and by health professionals with power at the structural level. However, dying of cancer seems to be in a special category and more of a problem for the health professionals. The two cases involved cancer, death and the compassionate leave compensation law. There is a hypothesis that 'psychologizing' death in Denmark has met with suitable conditions, for various reasons.
