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active euthanasia
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administration of an outside agent, such as a lethal amount of a drug, to cause death
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advance directive
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legal document that specifies what a person’s wishes are in the event they are unable to express them at some point in the future
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assisted suicide
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(also, medical aid in dying [MAID]) procedure in which a doctor knowingly prescribes a dose of medication knowing the patient intends to use it to end their life
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bereavement
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experience of the death of a loved one
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biological death
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permanent state of death in which vital organs have stopped working and cannot be resuscitated
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blunting
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coping style associated with avoiding information, particularly bad news
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brain death
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death that occurs when the brain has permanently stopped working
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cardiopulmonary death
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death that occurs when heartbeat and breathing have stopped and cannot be restarted through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other means
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clinical death
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potentially temporary state of death in which a person’s vital organs have stopped working but could be resuscitated
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complicated grief
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form of grief that lasts longer than is typical and is also associated with long-term adjustment problems; described as “prolonged grief disorder” in the
DSM-V-TR
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death anxiety
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person’s concern about what awaits them after death
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do not hospitalize (DNH)
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legal document stating that a person does not want to be hospitalized (and therefore receive unwanted medical treatment) in the event of serious illness
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do not intubate (DNI)
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legal document stating that a person does not want breathing tubes inserted into their nose or mouth in the event they stop breathing
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do not resuscitate (DNR)
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legal document stating that if a person’s heart stops beating or breathing stops, they do not want CPR or other measures taken to revive them
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dual-process model
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model of grieving consisting of two stages: loss orientation and restoration orientation; developed by Stroebe and Schut
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durable power of attorney for health care
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legal document authorizing a specific person to make health-care decisions for someone else
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dying trajectory
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pathway to death that varies on dimensions such as the nature and rate of decline
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euthanasia
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act of ending life in a painless manner to relieve pain and suffering
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excess mortality
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number of deaths above what would typically occur in a given time period
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executor
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person in charge of filing relevant paperwork and fulfilling the conditions in someone’s will
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grief
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internal, emotional reaction to loss
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health-care proxy
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person legally authorized to make health-care decisions for someone, or a legal document that gives a person that authority
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home care
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medical services provided in the patient’s residence
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hospice care
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type of care provided if a person’s condition is uncurable or treatment would be too stressful; includes managing physical symptoms, including pain, as well as addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of the patient and their loved ones
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intestate
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circumstance of dying without a will
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Kübler-Ross’s themes of grief
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cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to our own impending death, encompassing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance
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legacy activities
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activities in which a person creates an artifact that represents their life and for which they want to be remembered, such as a photo album, scrapbook, cookbook, or letters written to loved ones
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life review
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thoughtful examination of our own life, often focused on integrating both positive and negative memories into a coherent whole
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life satisfaction
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contentment with our current circumstances
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living will
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legal document specifying a person’s wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment in the event they are unable to express these wishes when treatment is needed
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loss orientation
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reaction to loss in which the bereaved person addresses the emotional aspects of the loss by accepting the situation and sharing grief with others
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middle knowledge
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intermediate step of grieving in which a person knows a loss is coming or has occurred but has not fully accepted the reality of it
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monitoring
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coping style characterized by the seeking out of information
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mourning
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outward, behavioral manifestation of grief
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outgroup bias
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negative feelings about people we feel are different than us
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palliative care
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type of medical care that manages symptoms and relieves pain but does not try to cure the underlying medical condition
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passive euthanasia
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withdrawal or withholding of potentially life-sustaining treatment
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probate court
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type of legal court that handles matters related to wills and guardianships
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quality of life
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person’s perception of how good their life is in the context of their values, goals, and cultural norms
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rationing of care
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practice of limiting the use of health-care resources for patients who have little or no chance of recovery
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reminiscence
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recollection and sharing of memories and stories, typically pleasant ones
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restoration orientation
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reaction to loss in which the bereaved person copes with the changes brought about by a loved one’s death, including changes to or the addition of relationships and roles
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social death
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exclusion from social interactions and considerations; when a person is viewed as not being part of society
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terror management theory
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theory that when our sense of self is threatened, we try to preserve it by becoming more committed to cultural values and showing more outgroup bias
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thanatologist
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researcher who studies the biological, psychological, and/or social aspects of death
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will
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legal document containing instructions for what to do with a person’s assets, property, and dependents after death