PBSI 225 Exam 3: Death and Dying

death

the absence of life

clinical death

when the heart stops beating

abrupt-surprise death

sudden, unexpected, instantaneous

short-term expected death

predictable decline due to terminal illness

expected lingering death

anticipated but prolonged, such as frailty or old age

entry-re entry death

slow declines punctuated by crises & partial recoveries

euthanasia

practice of assisting terminally ill people in dying more quickly

passive euthanasia

withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (e.g., ventilator), thus allowing for natural death

active euthanasia

death is deliberately induced (e.g., fatal dose of pain medication)

physician-assisted suicide

physician provides the means for the patient to decide and take the means for ending own life

Bereavement

a state of loss of a loved one (especially due to death)

grief

the deep sorrow, despair and sadness that can accompany the death of someone for which we care

mourning

cultural ritualistic ways of displaying and expressing bereavement

Dual Process Model of Grief

Poses that bereavement is accompanied by loss-oriented stressors (emotional attachment) and restoration-oriented stressors (life changes); healthy adjustment is promoted by alternating focus between the two types.

loss-oriented process of grief

managing emotion associated with loss of an attachment figure: e.g., breaking ties to the deceased

restoration-oriented stressors

secondary losses, changes that accompany the death, such as moving to a different residence, social isolation, establishing new roles, and managing practical details

disenfranchised grief

describes a person's grief over a deceased person that cannot be openly mourned or supported

in western culture, what does a mature understanding of death include?

non-functionality, irreversibility, inevitability, biological causality

non-functionality

death entails the complete and final end of all life-defining abilities or capacities, that are typically attributed to the living body

irreversibility

processes involved in the transition to being alive to being dead and resulting state of being dead cannot be undone

inevitability

death is universal, and that all living things will die someday

biological causality

death is caused by events or conditions that causes death, rather than by bad behavior or wishes

benefit finding

Exploring possible positive consequences of the death

sense making

considering what caused this to occur

identity reconstruction

Changing how the family members view themselves following the death (ex: sense of self as a parent, changing in relationships at work/school/home)

continuing bonds

Working to maintain their connection to the deceased in some way.

Reminiscing about their child, sharing photographs/memories, community events to honor child's passing

5 stages of dying

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

denial

First reaction, refusing to believe it is true, must be some mistake

anger

after realizing it is true, followed by outrage, irate, "why me" outbursts toward almost anyone

bargaining

Person attempts to change their circumstances by offering to "make a deal", often with God or some higher power. "I'll be a better person"

depression

As bargaining does not help, hopelessness, grief for things in the past or that they will miss in the future, begin to set in. Even though painful, it is helpful as part of the grieving process involves become detached from things in the patient's world, which allows for the final stage to occur

acceptance

At this stage, patient has accepted their death, depression tends to fade away, and person feels a quiet, calm readiness for death

Mrs. Norris just died. Argus Filch is trying to make sense of what happened. He is currently trying to organize a feast in the great hall in honor of Mrs. Norris. This is an example of what meaning-making process?

continuing bonds

Lindsay is 4 years old. She is told that her pet fish died. She doesn't seem upset. When asked why she isn't upset, Lindsay says because her fish is just gone to sleep, and will wake up and be alive again. Lindsay is not understanding what component of death?

irreversibility

According to ___________, individuals have to deal with both the emotion of missing someone once they pass, as well as the changes that accompany the death.

dual-process model of grief

In the Last Holiday, Queen Latifah starts arguing with God, trying to negotiate for more time to live. This is what stage of dying?

bargaining

____________ refers to irreversible loss of functioning in the entire brain

whole brain death

Mrs. P is the old teacher of a very troubled young man. She remembers him fondly from when he was 6. He was recently executed by the state for having committed terrible crimes. Mrs. P feels sad, but can't talk about it. Mrs P is experiencing ___________

disenfranchised grief

_____________Refers to the mature understanding of death as universal (all things die)

inevitability