Chapter 13: Death, Dying, Bereavement, and End-of-Life Care

This set of flashcards covers key concepts, terms, and definitions related to Chapter 13: Death, Dying, Bereavement, and End-of-Life Care.

Death anxiety

Fear, worry, or discomfort related to death and dying.

Palliative care

Healthcare designed to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Pioneered the study of death and dying; developed the five stages of grief.

DABDA

The five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

Advance care planning

Discussions about future healthcare wishes before losing decision-making ability.

Complicated grief

Persistent, intense grief that does not improve over time.

MAiD

Medical Assistance in Dying; legally allowing physician-assisted suicide.

Voluntary euthanasia

A physician or nurse intentionally administers a substance causing death.

Non-voluntary euthanasia

Withholding or withdrawing treatment to intentionally end life.

Medically-assisted suicide

Physician-prescribed drugs that the patient self-administers to induce death.

Bargaining

Negotiating for more time or a different outcome related to death.

Depression (in grief stages)

Phase where the magnitude of loss becomes more fully comprehended.

Good death

A death that aligns with the person's wishes and involves comfort and dignity.

Advance directives

Legal documents that specify healthcare wishes if a person is unable to communicate.

Bereavement

The state of mourning and grief following the death of a loved one.

Quality of Death Index

A survey evaluating countries' end-of-life care quality.

Kübler-Ross stages

Model describing stages of coping with grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

Bill C-7

Legislation that changed eligibility rules for MAiD in Canada.

Comfort in providing care

How well healthcare providers feel about delivering end-of-life care.

Emotional well-being

The psychological state of feeling supported, peaceful, and respected.

Pain-free status

A critical aspect of a good death involving the absence of physical pain.

Health professionals' referral duty

Obligation for physicians to refer patients for services they personally object to.

Cultural diversity in beliefs

Varied religious and cultural practices surrounding death and dying.

Green burials

Eco-friendly burial practices that have gained popularity recently.

Cremation

A method of body disposal involving burning, increasingly common in Canada.

Staging of grief

Frameworks describing how individuals experience and process grief over time.

Emotional immersion in grief

Deep engagement with pain and loss during the grieving process.

Advance care planning difficulty

Challenges many face in engaging in discussions about end-of-life wishes.

Life-limiting illness

A medical condition expected to shorten life expectancy.

Declining faculties in older adults

Loss of physical abilities that can contribute to thoughts of wanting to die.

Informed consent

Understanding and agreeing to a medical procedure or treatment.

Five core themes of a good death

Respect for dying wishes, pain-free status, and emotional comfort.

Healthcare provider training need

Recognition that providers may require more education in end-of-life care.

Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale

Tool used to measure an individual’s level of death anxiety.

Emotional support importance

The need for psychological comfort during the process of dying.

Euthanasia legislation in Switzerland

Switzerland was the first country to legislate physician-assisted suicide.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands

First country to legalize both voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Role of mourning rituals

Cultural practices that facilitate the grieving process.

Physical comfort in dying

Assessment of a dying person's pain management and physical care.

Emotional attachment disruption

Impact of bereavement on existing emotional bonds.

Psychological suffering in dying

Mental and emotional pain experienced by individuals with life-limiting illnesses.

Healthcare access issues

Challenges that limit the availability of palliative care to patients.

No single Canadian way of mourning

Variety of mourning customs shaped by cultural and religious factors.

Reintegration of self

The process of rebuilding one's identity after a significant loss.

Reflection on grief

The act of considering one's own grief responses and emotions.

Pain management fear

Concern that often outweighs the fear of death itself for many individuals.

Legal framework for MAiD

Criteria established for eligibility and process of requesting assisted dying.

Myths about grief

Common misconceptions that neglect individual differences in grieving.