Death Flashcards
Natural Death
One’s goals have been accomplished, obligations have been discharged, dying is not marked by unbearable/degrading pain
Stages of Dying
Shock/Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Not everyone follows them in the same order, can experience more than one stage at once, and not everyone experiences every stage.
Needs of dying
Treated as a living human being, maintain a sense of hopefulness despite change in focus of care, cared for by those who maintain sense of hopefulness, able to express feelings and emotions their own way, participate in decisions about their own care, need to be cared for by compassionate/sensitive/knowledgeable people, continuing medicale care (despite change of focus), questions answered, seek spirtituality (not necessarily religious), free of physical pain, children to participate in death (not be shut off from living younger relatives), understand the process of death, die in peace/dignity, not die alone, sanctity of body maintained in death
Big Three important things for pts at end of life
Meaning (did it matter that I lived), relationships (Before I die, I need to say: forgive me, I forgive you, I love you, etc), Legacy leaving
Good Death
Free from avoidable distress/pain/suffering, lets go at same time as survivors are ready to let go of dying person. Consistent with societal/social/clinical standards
Dying Badly
Needless pain/suffering. Dishonering of pt/family wishes.
Hard death
Despite good patient centered care, patient’s suffering continues and is severe up until time of death. Can also be because fate of family (children/dependents) is uncertain. MORE COMMON IN SUDDEN ONSET TERMINAL DISEASES
Autonomy
Self-governance. Often lost in dying process and a surrogate makes decisions for them
Place most pts want to die vs place most pts die
Want to die at home; actually die in hospitals
Most common cause of death in modern times
Cardiovascular Disease
Leading cause of death at turn of 20th century
Pneumonia
