1 / 23

Chapter 17 The Final Challenge: Death and Dying

Chapter 17 The Final Challenge: Death and Dying. Biological Definitions of Death. Harvard: Total Brain Death Unresponsive to stimuli No movement or breathing No reflexes Flat EEG Euthanasia: “happy” or “good” death Hastening death of someone suffering incurable illness or injury.

odin
Download Presentation

Chapter 17 The Final Challenge: Death and Dying

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 17The Final Challenge:Death and Dying

  2. Biological Definitions of Death • Harvard: Total Brain Death • Unresponsive to stimuli • No movement or breathing • No reflexes • Flat EEG • Euthanasia: “happy” or “good” death • Hastening death of someone suffering incurable illness or injury

  3. Social Meanings of Death • Modern American • Medical failure • More traditional societies • Natural part of life cycle • Grieving practices vary • By culture: weeping/partying • By ethnicity: wake/Shiva

  4. Life Expectancy • Expected age at death • U.S.: 76.5 years • White females: 80 years • White males: 75 years • Black females: 75 years • Black males: 68 years • Ancient Rome: 30 years

  5. Figure 17.1

  6. Theories of Aging and Death • Programmed theories • Maximum life span (species specific) • Hayflick Limit – cells from embryos divide a limited amount 50 ± 10; for adult cells even less • Damage Theories • Free radicals – toxic by-products of the metabolism of O2 damage cells and their functioning (also damage DNA) • Interaction of the two – or more

  7. Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Dying • Common set of stage-like emotions • Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance • Criticisms • Not a stage-like process • Course of illness not considered • Individual differences

  8. Attachment Model of Bereavement • Bereavement: the state of loss • Grieving: emotional expressions • Anticipatory grief • Mourning: culturally approved reactions • Parks/Bowlby Model • Reaction to separation from a loved one • Numbness, yearning, despair, reorganization (not stages)

  9. Figure 17.2

  10. The Infant • Object permanence – “all gone” • Attachment by 6-8 months • Separation anxiety at loss • Protest, yearning, searching despair • Behavioral: eating, sleeping, regression • Less distress if attached to other parent • Eventual new attachments and recovery

  11. The Child • The mature concept of death • Finality, irreversibility, universality, biological causality • Age 3-5: universality • Dead live under altered circumstances (hunger pangs, wishes, beliefs) • Reversible - life sleep • Age 5-7: finality, irreversibility, universality (death caused by an external agent) • Age 10: biological causality is understood • Level of cognitive development, experience determine understanding

  12. The Dying Child • Young child aware of impending death • Adults often secretive • Same range of emotions as dying adults • Anxiety revealed in behavior • Control is helpful • Need support of important others

  13. The Bereaved Child • Children do grieve • Express grief differently than adults do • Misbehavior, strike out, rage • Lack adult coping skills • Will use denial, avoidance • Most adjust successfully

  14. The Adolescent • Higher levels of understanding • Concerns of adolescence • Body image, identity, independence • May carry on internal dialogue with dead • Devastated at death of close friend • Adult-like grieving

  15. The Adult • Death of family member difficult • Death of spouse more expected with age • More difficult when young (non-normative) • Elevated levels of stress • Risk increases for illness and death • Signs of recovery after 2 years

  16. Loss of a Child • No loss more difficult • Experienced as untimely, unjust • Broken attachments • Guilt at failure to protect child • May continue relationship w/dead child • Marital problems often increase afterward

  17. The Loss of a Parent • Lasting problems may occur if young • Less tragic than unexpected death • Adjustment not as difficult • Guilt: not doing enough for parent • Broken attachment

  18. Grief Work Perspective • Emotions must be confronted: detachment • Psychoanalytic, also popular view • May be a culturally biased belief • Grief work may actually cause more distress • Delayed grief reaction predicted w/out it • Not supported by research • Detachment not necessary

  19. Who Copes and Who Succumbs • Secure infant attachment related to coping • Low self-esteem related to more difficulty • Cause of death influences bereavement • Support system essential • Additional life stressors detrimental • Positive outcomes often found

  20. Hospice • Dying person decides what is needed • De-emphasize prolonging life • Pain control emphasized • Normal setting (if possible) • Bereavement counseling for entire family • Research shows positive outcomes

  21. Death and Dying video

More Related