Sociocultural

definitions of death
Mourning rituals, expressions of grief and states of
bereavement vary in different cultures.
LEGAL &
MEDICAL
DEFINITIONS
WHOLE-BRAIN DEATH

CLINICAL DEATH

PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE
STATE
 BIOETHICS

Euthanasia
Active & passive

Physician-assisted suicide
END-OF-LIFE ISSUES

FINAL
SCENARIO
 MAKING INTENTIONS KNOWN.

LIVING WILL

HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY

DO NOR RESUCIATE (DNR) ORDER

 THE HOSPICE OPTION
I N P APTAI LE LNI TA T| I O
V EU TCPAARTEI E N T

IS THE PERSON COMPLETELY INFORMED ABOUT THE NATURE AND PROGNOSIS OF HIS OR
HER CONDITION?

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT IN THE PROGRESS OF THE PERSON’S
DISEASE?

WHAT ARE THE PERSON’S EXPECTATIONS, FEARS, AND HOPES?

HOW WELL DO PEOPLE IN THE PERSON’S SOCIAL NETWORK COMMUNICATE WITH EACH
OTHER?

ARE FAMILY MEMBERS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN TERMINAL CARE?

NO BEREAVEMENT
Anniversary
CONTROL |GRIEF
| ACTIVE
ANTICIPATORY
GRIEF WORK GRIEF
reaction
PROCESS
FIVE THEMES OF PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCE OF GRIEF
(MULLER AND THOMPSON 2003)

coping Concerns what people do to deal with their loss

in terms of what helps them.

affect People’s emotional rxn to the death of their

loved one.

change Ways survivors’ live changes after the loss;

personal growth

narrative Survivors tell the stories of the deceased loved

ones

relationships Reflect the nature of the ties between the

survivor and the deceased.
Coping with grief
 Disenfranchised grief

No man is an island,

Entire of itself,

Every man is a piece of the

continent

-john donne
 childhood
Changes in the cognitive-language ability,
Emotional/psychosocial development,
And coping skills.
adolescents
Effects are severe, especially
when unexpected. Expressed in
many ways such as, Chronic
illnesses, enduring guilt, low
self-esteem, poorer performance
in school, substance abuse,
problems in interpersonal
relationships, and suicidal
thinking
 Death of

adulthood
one’s child

Death of
one’s parents
 LATE ADULTHOOD

Death of one’s GRANDchild | Death of one’s PARTNER