Dying And Grieving In Health Care

Nobody wants to die, but death is an inevitable and complex phenomena. To say goodbye to loved one is always difficult. In some cases, it is harder when death comes sooner than later by some serious diagnosis. I think the most important point that a health-care professional needs to consider on the subject of death, dying or grieving is to respect the wishes of patients and families. Health-care professionals should provide training and education about death, dying, and bereavement to the families. Also, healthcare providers should be familiar with the ethics and cultures of the patients and families which they belong to. Death, dying or grieving processes can be culturally or traditionally different among patients. “Some physicians can keep
giving treatments and some find it unacceptable” (Frontline: Facing Death), and want to stop unnecessary treatment, but there will be always an uncertainty. I think that quality of life is more important than having a longer life with support. In Frontline: Facing Death, Dr. Keren Osman talks about an end stage bone marrow transplant patient: “I am not sure the transplant prolong[ed] his life but I am not sure he would live much longer without it. He died much more difficult after the transplant than he would die that he not chosen that and I am not sure we added quality of life at all”. Quality of life is more important than prolonging the life with life support or any other means. Works Cited: http://video/pbs/org/video/1639625115 (n.d.). [Motion Picture].
Ken Murray (2011) How Doctors Die, http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2011/11/30/how-doctors-die/ideas/nexus/