Medical Ethics?
The end of life or Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it.
W. Sumner Davis, BA, MS, M.Div, Dr. Theol.
Of the many experiences that affect humans, only two are universal to all people regardless of demographics: birth and death. While birth is seen in most cultures as a joyous, happy occasion, at least in most circumstances, death is confronted as an emotional, mind altering and traumatic event. As we face death with those we love, we cannot help but be reminded that we ourselves will ultimately face death. There cannot but be ethical questions surrounding death. “What does dignity look like at the end of life?” “What responsibilities do we as human beings owe to others, more especially our family and friends?” and death nears. “When is enough suffering and hopelessness enough?” How we answer these questions seem far from universal, and a great deal depends on our background; what has our culture, religion, philosophy taught us?
It is only from this personal background that we hope to find the words and the I to conflict with loss. Perhaps the best study into the way we humans deal with death, at least from in many perspectives, is the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Ross believed that as we die we go through certain stages; however the underlying emotional response is grief. She found that grief was a natural process to death and dying. Ross further found that it is not pathological in nature but is necessary to begin the healing process from such an all consuming sense of loss when a loved one dies.
Another pioneer on the study of the dying process is Barbara Gould. Gould identified five distinct phases that the dying person must go through to reach acceptance which Gould defines as Acceptance, or coming to terms with the reality of impending death. Of course, as people move through this process they can revisit these different stages- and often, very often, anger is always just beneath the surface.
More than acceptance, it can be viewed as accepting that the world will still go on without you and that death is the natural conclusion to life. Still it is the rare person who can freely accepted that their life is about to end. Gould found that the five stages she identified were: Denial- there must be some mistake; Anger- the sudden loss of control over and direction of life. Bargaining- the willingness to compromise. You are willing to promise to do or not to do specific things if only you can be given more time; Depression- This is such a normal part of the process for many reasons: You are already depressed about your effect on your loved ones, on your own impending death, and on how everyone will cope with that death. Finally, the dying person reaches Acceptance- often not until the dying person works though the numerous conflicts and feelings that impending death bring. There is another reason for this acceptance- a person begins to succumb to the inevitable.
Most people, although not all, become less emotional as the end nears- calmness arrives and you realize the battle is almost over. The end has come at last and you are ready. At least, that's what they tell me.
W. Sumner Davis, BA, MS, M.Div, Dr. Theol.
Of the many experiences that affect humans, only two are universal to all people regardless of demographics: birth and death. While birth is seen in most cultures as a joyous, happy occasion, at least in most circumstances, death is confronted as an emotional, mind altering and traumatic event. As we face death with those we love, we cannot help but be reminded that we ourselves will ultimately face death. There cannot but be ethical questions surrounding death. “What does dignity look like at the end of life?” “What responsibilities do we as human beings owe to others, more especially our family and friends?” and death nears. “When is enough suffering and hopelessness enough?” How we answer these questions seem far from universal, and a great deal depends on our background; what has our culture, religion, philosophy taught us?
It is only from this personal background that we hope to find the words and the I to conflict with loss. Perhaps the best study into the way we humans deal with death, at least from in many perspectives, is the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Ross believed that as we die we go through certain stages; however the underlying emotional response is grief. She found that grief was a natural process to death and dying. Ross further found that it is not pathological in nature but is necessary to begin the healing process from such an all consuming sense of loss when a loved one dies.
Another pioneer on the study of the dying process is Barbara Gould. Gould identified five distinct phases that the dying person must go through to reach acceptance which Gould defines as Acceptance, or coming to terms with the reality of impending death. Of course, as people move through this process they can revisit these different stages- and often, very often, anger is always just beneath the surface.
More than acceptance, it can be viewed as accepting that the world will still go on without you and that death is the natural conclusion to life. Still it is the rare person who can freely accepted that their life is about to end. Gould found that the five stages she identified were: Denial- there must be some mistake; Anger- the sudden loss of control over and direction of life. Bargaining- the willingness to compromise. You are willing to promise to do or not to do specific things if only you can be given more time; Depression- This is such a normal part of the process for many reasons: You are already depressed about your effect on your loved ones, on your own impending death, and on how everyone will cope with that death. Finally, the dying person reaches Acceptance- often not until the dying person works though the numerous conflicts and feelings that impending death bring. There is another reason for this acceptance- a person begins to succumb to the inevitable.
Most people, although not all, become less emotional as the end nears- calmness arrives and you realize the battle is almost over. The end has come at last and you are ready. At least, that's what they tell me.
posted by Dr. W. Sumner Davis at 8:10 AM
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