Chapter 14 (Death And Dying)

Page 1: Introduction to Surgical Technology

• Overview of Health Tech Academy's guide for aspiring Surgical Technologists.

Page 2: Chapter 14 Overview

• Key topics covered include:

  • End-of-life period and brain death.

  • Kübler-Ross stages of dying.

  • Comfort measures for dying patients.

  • Ethical considerations and cultural competence in dying.

Page 3: Learning Objectives of Chapter 14

• Readers will be able to:

  1. Define end-of-life period and brain death.

  2. Describe Kübler-Ross’s stages of dying.

  3. Discuss comfort methods for dying patients.

  4. Understand family conflicts during dying.

  5. Address ethical issues in death.

  6. Define cultural competence in dying care.

  7. Discuss death determination and postmortem changes.

  8. Identify coroner cases.

  9. Explain principles of organ recovery.

Page 4: Defining the End of Life

• Multiple perspectives on death assist health professionals in supporting patients and families.

• Anticipated death defined as entering a dying state.

• Comfort care persists while life-extending measures cease.

• Brain death entails the total failure of brain function, equating it to legal death in the U.S.

Page 5: Cause of Death

• International Classification of Diseases (ICD): Establishes cause of death.

  • Distinguishes between direct and underlying causes (e.g., heart arrest due to kidney disease).

  • Socially, the cause of death affects community responses; unexpected deaths are often traumatic.

Page 6: Models of Death and Dying

• Emotional responses stem from receiving terminal news; notable model by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross:

  • Stages:

    • Denial.

    • Anger.

    • Bargaining.

    • Depression.

    • Acceptance.

• Variability in individual experiences and cultural influences on stages.

Page 7: Comfort and Support for the Dying

• Palliative care nurtures long-lasting patient relationships while surgical settings may offer brief interactions.

• Effective communication requires excellent observation and listening skills.

• Emotional and psychological challenges faced by families noted; healthcare personnel can assist in finding coping mechanisms.

Page 8: Ethical Considerations in Death

• Influenced by personal beliefs and cultural backgrounds.

• Self-determination: Patients should express how they wish to die and what treatments to refuse.

• Health professionals must guide patients in decision-making regarding treatment options;

  • Ethics committees may be consulted for unresolved moral dilemmas.

Page 9: Advance Health Care Directives

• Directives outline medical treatment preferences for those unable to express themselves.

• Important legal documents include living wills, DNAR, and DNR orders.

• Ethical conflicts may arise from unclear directives regarding resuscitation efforts.

Page 10: Palliative Care and Medical Decisions

• Palliative care includes medical and surgical interventions to alleviate suffering.

• Families face difficult decisions about continuing support versus ending life-sustaining treatments.

Page 11: Cultural Responses to Death

• Healthcare professionals must be culturally competent to navigate death's spiritual and religious dimensions.

• Different cultures have diverse practices that should be respected while adhering to health standards.

• Roles are outlined in the death confirmation process and postmortem care.

Page 12: Changes in the Body After Death

• Postmortem changes occur, including body cooling and rigor mortis, which starts 15 minutes post-death.

Page 13: Postmortem Care and Legalities

• Adheres to patient beliefs; sudden death triggers coroner investigations.

• Strict protocols established for preserving evidence and handling deceased bodies.

Page 14: Healthcare Professionals Facing Death

• Emotional responses vary; support is vital for coping with patient deaths.

• Structured responses like support groups can assist in managing these feelings.

Page 15: Key Concepts Summary

• Definitions relevant to end-of-life care:

  • End of life.

  • Kübler-Ross stages.

  • Self-determination and cultural competence.

  • Differences between treatment for comfort and prolonging life.

Page 16: Legal and Ethical Notes on Death

• Outline of coroner's cases and organ donation procedures.

Page 17: Case Studies Practice Questions

• Application of concepts to hypothetical situations in surgical settings.

Page 18: Terminology

• Advance health care directive: Document detailing treatment preferences.

• Coroner’s case: Investigation required upon death in certain circumstances.

• Cultural competence: Awareness of diverse beliefs and practices related to death.

• Rigor mortis: Stiffening of the body post-death.