Good Death - Essay Example

1. What is “good death”? A medical perspective.

“Good death” both to patients and medical practitioners may have diverse meanings despite the latter being supposed to execute his or her assigned duties as necessitated (Dowbiggin, 2007). Medical practitioners ought to concur with the patient prior to giving their conclusions regarding dying wishes. This is because the patient despite experiencing severe pain may wish to have everything settled in his or her family (Dowbiggin, 2007). Hence, there is a need for delayed death. However, others would wish for an abrupt death such that they would not have to experience any pain, hence preferring euthanasia. Despite medical practitioners charged with the responsibility of acting in the interests of the patients, they ought to respect their rights (Dowbiggin, 2007).

1. What goals should I have in mind when working towards a decent death for my patient

Goals that I ought to have in mind include,

• Involving the patient’s people since death usually happens in the social context where its impacts affect numerous people besides relatives.
• Ensure there is an adequate measure meant to control pain and other physical symptoms that may yield to the deprivation of one’s comfort (Dowbiggin, 2007).
• Ensure that I have an adequate medical understanding of the person’s disease.
• Make sure there is a degree of acceptance by the ailing person regarding his or her situation.
• To avail effective process, this will guide the patient when making his or her dying decisions with consideration of close people who died will affect.

1. How do you know when someone is dying?

It is extremely hard to predict, but clinicians ought to shun using their predictive skills and rely more on clinical plans (Dowbiggin, 2007). However, there are signs that when a person is dying exhibit and include,

• Loss of appetite since one’s body has no need for refueling.
• Increased sleep because physical exertion of an individual approaching end time is extremely exhausting
• Rapid physical deterioration
• A person may start experiencing scary deathbed visions.

1. What Should I know about the hospice approach?

A person’s wish for a good death normally emanates from the failure of any possible cure (Dowbiggin, 2007). Therefore, it is essential that I consider the patient’s personal meaning, which is decidedly essential besides:

• Pain management especially among people suffering from life-threatening illnesses like cancer
• Spiritual needs of the ailing person since that is the most critical period of one’s life
• Symptoms’ control
• Psychological issues like depression, which might deprive one’s comfort.

1. What do you need to understand to care for the dying?

            Effective execution of the necessary responsibilities meant for the comfort of the dying one ought to be aware of,

• Patient’s story especially how one views his or her life together with close relatives or people who have offered significant assistance to be where he or she is present.
• The body of an individual to ascertain limits where medicine cannot offer any assistance.
• Medical care system available that will offer assistance to the dying during his or her last period
• It is essential one should understand self-strengths and weaknesses because a medical practitioner is an instrument of healing and at the same time damaging to the patient.

1. How do Physicians who care for the dying deal with their own feelings?

            Clinicians caring for the dying normally seek necessary self-care even outside of the medical field, which will enable them to nurture their gifts (Dowbiggin, 2007). This is because the strategy of detachment will not offer them a lasting solution owing to humanity’s emotional consciousness.

1. When the time comes, how are you going to decide for yourself?

I will plan before such that everything that requires my attention is already settled. In addition, I will also prepare my family and relatives so that my departure from this physical world will not bring a grieve burden to them (Dowbiggin, 2007). Primarily, this is by ensuring that I have settled all issues regarding both spiritual and emotional issues that will leave them with hope. Hence, they will take death as a temporary thing where we will reunite again in heaven and rejoice together.