How a Toronto hospital uses virtual reality to grant dying patients a last wish
"I'm not just dumping a headset on them," he said. "I'm actually sort of progressing it so they get the feeling that they're doing a trip or doing something that's special.
"How can we virtually start to cross items off [the patient's] bucket list?"
There's limited data about the efficacy of virtual reality as therapy, but both he and Dr. Leah Steinberg — the palliative care physician who has supported the project — hope to change that.
They've already cleared several hurdles simply in starting the program. For example, they've ensured that the headset can be sterilized so that it doesn't bring in any bacteria to vulnerable patients.
It's not a typical medical tool, but the escape of virtual reality can help patients cope after learning they have a terminal condition, Steinberg said.
See the full story here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/palliative-care-virtual-reality-1.4254087