Chapter 16: Death and Dying

3 major pathways to death

Sudden and Unexpected Death, Steady Decline (Rapid Decline), Long-term Frailty/Gradual Decline

Stage theory of dying

The landmark theory, developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, that people who are terminally ill progress through five stages in confronting their death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

End of life care instruction

courses in medical and nursing schools devoted to teaching health-care workers how to provide the best palliative care to the dying

Palliative Care

Care designed not to treat an illness but to provide physical and emotional comfort to the patient and support and guidance to his or her family.

Hospice

a home providing care for the sick, especially the terminally ill.

Living Will

A document that indicates what medical intervention an individual wants if he or she becomes incapable of expressing those wishes.

Durable healthcare power of attorney

A signed, dated and witnessed document that appoints someone to make healthcare decisions when/for the person in the event he/she cannot do so.

DNR

(Do Not Resuscitate) An order that tells medical professionals not to perform CPR.

DNH

Do not hospitalize (if pt. doesn't want to go to the hospital)

Active euthanasia

death induced deliberately, as by injecting a lethal dose of a drug

Passive euthanasia

A situation in which a seriously ill person is allowed to die naturally, through the cessation of medical intervention.