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17.5: Key Terms

  • Page ID
    233722
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    active euthanasia
    administration of an outside agent, such as a lethal amount of a drug, to cause death
    advance directive
    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
    assisted suicide
    (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
    bereavement
    experience of the death of a loved one
    biological death
    permanent state of death in which vital organs have stopped working and cannot be resuscitated
    blunting
    coping style associated with avoiding information, particularly bad news
    brain death
    death that occurs when the brain has permanently stopped working
    cardiopulmonary death
    death that occurs when heartbeat and breathing have stopped and cannot be restarted through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other means
    clinical death
    potentially temporary state of death in which a person’s vital organs have stopped working but could be resuscitated
    complicated grief
    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
    death anxiety
    person’s concern about what awaits them after death
    do not hospitalize (DNH)
    legal document stating that a person does not want to be hospitalized (and therefore receive unwanted medical treatment) in the event of serious illness
    do not intubate (DNI)
    legal document stating that a person does not want breathing tubes inserted into their nose or mouth in the event they stop breathing
    do not resuscitate (DNR)
    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
    dual-process model
    model of grieving consisting of two stages: loss orientation and restoration orientation; developed by Stroebe and Schut
    durable power of attorney for health care
    legal document authorizing a specific person to make health-care decisions for someone else
    dying trajectory
    pathway to death that varies on dimensions such as the nature and rate of decline
    euthanasia
    act of ending life in a painless manner to relieve pain and suffering
    excess mortality
    number of deaths above what would typically occur in a given time period
    executor
    person in charge of filing relevant paperwork and fulfilling the conditions in someone’s will
    grief
    internal, emotional reaction to loss
    health-care proxy
    person legally authorized to make health-care decisions for someone, or a legal document that gives a person that authority
    home care
    medical services provided in the patient’s residence
    hospice care
    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
    intestate
    circumstance of dying without a will
    Kübler-Ross’s themes of grief
    cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to our own impending death, encompassing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance
    legacy activities
    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
    life review
    thoughtful examination of our own life, often focused on integrating both positive and negative memories into a coherent whole
    life satisfaction
    contentment with our current circumstances
    living will
    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
    loss orientation
    reaction to loss in which the bereaved person addresses the emotional aspects of the loss by accepting the situation and sharing grief with others
    middle knowledge
    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
    monitoring
    coping style characterized by the seeking out of information
    mourning
    outward, behavioral manifestation of grief
    outgroup bias
    negative feelings about people we feel are different than us
    palliative care
    type of medical care that manages symptoms and relieves pain but does not try to cure the underlying medical condition
    passive euthanasia
    withdrawal or withholding of potentially life-sustaining treatment
    probate court
    type of legal court that handles matters related to wills and guardianships
    quality of life
    person’s perception of how good their life is in the context of their values, goals, and cultural norms
    rationing of care
    practice of limiting the use of health-care resources for patients who have little or no chance of recovery
    reminiscence
    recollection and sharing of memories and stories, typically pleasant ones
    restoration orientation
    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
    social death
    exclusion from social interactions and considerations; when a person is viewed as not being part of society
    terror management theory
    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
    thanatologist
    researcher who studies the biological, psychological, and/or social aspects of death
    will
    legal document containing instructions for what to do with a person’s assets, property, and dependents after death

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