Death and Dying- Elective

altruism

concern about the well-being of others; may lead one to perform charitable acts

bereavement

separation from or loss of someone who is very significant in one’s life

conservator

one who has been legally designated to protect the interests of a person who is unable to manage his or her affairs

cremation

the disposal of a corpse by means of fire

denial

a tendency to avoid recognizing or acknowledging a situation that, if not denied, would cause emotional pain or embarrassment;

euthanasia

administration of a lethal substance to a person who is dying and in great pain; also called ‘‘mercy killing’’.

grief

intense emotional suffering due to a loss

guilt

self-reproach due to the belief that one has committed a wrong

hospice

facility for the care of terminally ill patients, based on a death -with-dignity philosophy.

incapacitated

incapable of functioning

litigation

a lawsuit

palliative

relieving or controlling symptoms without healing the underlying disease process

proxy

one who has been designated to act on behalf of another person

quality of life

the characteristics of one’s life situation; may vary from extremely poor to excellent

suppressed

not expressed, held down

survivor guilt

tendency of a survivor to feel guilty for being alive, especially when someone else did not survive an accident

sympathy

concern for another person, especially one who is experiencing illness, trauma or crisis

thanatology

the study of death and dying