Death & Dying Flashcards
1
Q
Person in care
A
Person held:
1. Under child welfare act
2. In custody under prisons act
3. By police
4. In a centre under alcohol/drug authority act
5. As involuntary patient under mental health act
6. As a detainee under young offenders act
2
Q
Reportable deaths
A
- Unexpected, unnatural, violent or result of injury
- During or as a result of anaesthetic
- Person held in care (or caused/contributed to while in care)
- Caused by/contributed to by actions of PO
- Unknown identity
3
Q
Coroner’s case
A
- Nothing should be done to the body (incl. washing)
- Leave all invasive devices in situ - e.g. IVs, drains, airways.
- Secure all sharps/equipment in situ to minimise risk of injury
- All IV bags/feed lines must accompany body
- Place body in plastic bag per local policy; do NOT tie limbs or plug orifices
- Material sucked from body or vomitus retained, labelled and sent with body
- Document exactly how body was handled.
4
Q
Non-coroner’s case
A
- Consult with family/NOK about their preferences, cultural and/or religious considerations.
- Perform last offices (with/out family members) - - remove invasive devices
- remove clothing and pack with personal items
- wash the body and provide oral hygiene
- brush the patient’s hair
- close the patient’s eyes
- place absorbent sheet under patient
- dress patient in gown/shroud - Allow family members to view the body (before/after)
- Ensure ID and mortuary tags attached
- Escort body and complete mortuary documentation
5
Q
ATSI
A
- Seek guidance from family and/or ALO about cultural protocols - e.g. who should inform the family.
- Utilise interpreter as required
- Term “passing” is preferred
- Be aware of gender preferences for caregivers
- Taboo around mentioning or writing name of deceased
6
Q
Buddhist
A
- Clarify wishes around use of analgesics - be specific about effects on level of awareness, offer non-pharmaceutical options
- Support praying/chanting
- Offer alternatives to burning incense - e.g. scented cushions, flowers, electric lights.
- Minimise distractions/disturbances during meditation and after death
7
Q
Catholic
A
- Facilitate access to local Catholic priest and sacramental requests - e.g. confession, sacrament of the sick, holy communion.
- Support prayer
- Leave items of religious significance in place after death
- Support family participation in last offices
- Offer access to chaplaincy support
- Analgesia is allowed but euthanasia is forbidden
- Autopsies and organ donation generally acceptable
8
Q
Hindu
A
- Facilitate access to Pandit (priest) to perform rituals
- Facilitate prayer/chanting and pre-death rituals
- Avoid removing items of religious significance
- Preserve modesy and preferences for same-sex caregivers
- Monitor levels of pain
- Discuss withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment
- Allow family members to wash, reposition and accompany body after death
- Autopsies generally not acceptable (unless required by law)
9
Q
Muslim
A
- Support dietary/fasting requirements
- Preserve modesty and preferences for same-sex caregivers (incl. handling body) or chaperone during physical assessment
- Avoid casual touch by members of opposite sex
- Support visiting of the sick practices by friends/family
- Analgesia is allowed but euthanasia is forbidden
- Body must not be left naked/uncovered, should be wrapped in sheet without being washed and positioned to face East (Mecca)
- Body to be buried within 24hrs and autopsy only for medical reasons.
- Public grief only permitted for three days
10
Q
Jewish
A
- Support dietary requirements
- Preserve modesty and preferences for same-sex caregivers (incl. handling of body) or chaperone
- Support customary visiting of the sick by family
- All life-prolonging acts must be taken
- Family member remains with patient until deceased
- Body must not be left alone after death, must not be washed, should be laid flat with palms facing up and incisions covered
