(CNN) The time surrounding David Bowie's death "has had a profound effect on me and many people I work with," wrote a British palliative-care physician in an open letter shared by Bowie's son.
Filmmaker Duncan Jones' retweet linked to the letter, from Cardiff physician Dr. Mark Taubert, on Twitter on Sunday.
In the letter, Taubert praised Bowie's final album, "Blackstar," for its "references, hints and allusions" and "good-bye message" that coincided with the singer's death at home.
"Many people I talk to as part of my job think that death predominantly happens in hospitals, in very clinical settings, but I presume you chose home and planned this in some detail," Taubert wrote. "This is one of our aims in palliative care, and your ability to achieve this may mean that others will see it as an option they would like fulfilled. "
David Bowie's ever-changing look
A 3D wall portrait of David Bowie, created by Australian street artist Jimmy C, in Brixton, South London
Bowie's hair and outfits shocked and awed for decades. Pictured, a young Bowie sports a Prince Valiant-esque do in March 1965, while he was still going by his birth name of Davy Jones. He changed his name to Bowie following the success of the Monkees and their lead singer Davy Jones.
Bowie appears at the Disc and Music Echo Valentine Awards ceremony at the Cafe Royal in London in February 1970.
Bowie wore this "Starman" costume for his appearance in "Top of the Pops" in 1972. It was featured in the "David Bowie is" exhibition in Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London in 2013. It is one of 300 objects from the exhibit.
Bowie performs as 'Ziggy Stardust' in 1973.
Bowie performs his final concert as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on July 3, 1973. The concert later became known as the Retirement Gig.
Bowie performs onstage in 1973 wearing makeup and a costume that covers only one leg and one arm.
This costume was made for Bowie on the 1973 "Aladdin Sane" tour by Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto. Bowie said the designs were "everything I wanted... outrageous, provocative and unbelievably hot to wear under the lights."
Bowie appears in concert at Earl's Court, London, during his 1978 world tour.
Bowie grins broadly, wearing a plaid shirt with his hair slicked back, circa 1980.
Bowie appears on the movie poster for the 1986 film "Labyrinth," for which he wrote the music and played the role of the Goblin King.
Bowie performs sporting a blond mullet in 1987.
Bowie appears onstage at the Parc des Princes in Paris in June 1997.
Bowie appears with his wife, model Iman, at the New York premiere of "Hannibal" in February 2001.
Bowie performs at Zenith in Paris in September 2002.
Bowie performs at the 2002 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Bowie performs in Copenhagen in 2003.
Bowie arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala in April 2003 in New York.
Bowie performs on the third and final day of the 2004 Nokia Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight, England.
Bowie looks clean-cut while attending a gala in New York honoring Rihanna and Michael Clinton with his wife, Iman, in April 2011.
He also mentions a woman who has advanced cancer. Taubert and the woman shared a fondness for Bowie's music, and she talked about the way she'd like to die.
"We talked about a good death, the dying moments and what these typically look like. And we talked about palliative care and how it can help," Taubert wrote.
"We both wondered who may have been around you when you took your last breath and whether anyone was holding your hand. I believe this was an aspect of the vision she had of her own dying moments that was of utmost importance to her, and you gave her a way of expressing this most personal longing to me, a relative stranger."
Bowie died January 10. Jones tweeted the news on social media.
In the aftermath of his death, "Blackstar" hit No. 1 amid the kind of discussion about symbolism Taubert referred to.
Bowie also set a one-day record on Vevo for most views, many driven by the video for his song "Lazarus."
Taubert's letter was published in a blog on the British Medical Journal website.
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