Question

using flip chart on page 17, brainstorm to create your own list of characteristics of what would be agood death and bad death for you . during class or with a partner compare list and and answer these questions: did anyone suprise you? how might you adapt care to meet individual preferences

Answer 1

Answer 1

Good death characteristics

1. Death devoid of pain
2. Amongst loved ones.
3. Donate all viable organs.
4. Post-death rituals as per an individual's religious beliefs.
5. Cessation of treatment if demanded by the patient.
6. Doctors and nurses activity seeking the option of the patient ( when he/she is alive) about the patient's preference.

Bad death characteristics

1. Overzealous therapeutic intervention by the doctors and nurses when the patient wishes to die and has a dismal outcome.
2. Healthcare professionals behaving as masters rather than partners in patient care.
3. An indifference of healthcare professionals towards patient's desires about his own death.

Care can be adapted in the following was to meet individual preference:

1. Have a one on one conversation with the patient about his preference pertaining to death.
2. Asking the patient their option gives them a feeling of empowerment.
3. Provide the patient with relevant clinical information and the pros and cons of each medical intervention.
4. Achieve adequate pain relief with the help of pain specialists.
5. Organize a meeting with spiritual or religious heads if the patient wish to talk to them before death.
6. Convey the patient's decisions and desire to his closed relatives ( to prevent conflict in the future)
7. Withhold treatment if the patient asks to do so. The patient needs to be in a sound state of mind while expressing these desires. Only then the health care team should take the patient seriously.

Answer 3

1. The healthcare team should be aware that I have accepted death as a part of life.
2. I want a pain-free death.
3. Other medications that are not likely to yield any therapeutic benefits should be stopped.
4. Donate my organs.
5. In case, I go into cardiac arrest please don't resuscitate.
6. I am expressing my desires in sound state of mind. I have made my decision after going over every option.
7. I hereby take full responsibility for my decisions and I have not being forced into taking these decision.