Question 1

In most industrialized nations today,doctors rely on __________ to signify death.

Accepted Answer

In most industrialized nations, doctors rely on brain death to signify death. Brain death is the complete and irreversible loss of brain function, including the brain stem, which controls essential functions such as breathing and heartbeat. This is typically confirmed through a series of tests, including an EEG, to ensure that there is no electrical activity in the brain. Other signs of death, such as absence of heartbeat or respiration or falling body temperature, may be present, but brain death is the most reliable indicator.

Question 2

Dying people

Accepted Answer

While physical care and attention are important for dying individuals, social support that addresses emotional and spiritual needs can have a profound impact on overall quality of life in the last days and hours. Focusing solely on pain management and disregarding the mind and spirit can overlook important aspects of the dying process.

Question 3

We can ensure the most dignified exit possible by

Accepted Answer

Offering the dying person care, affection, companionship, and esteem is the best way to ensure the most dignified exit possible. This approach respects the autonomy of the dying person and allows them to make decisions about their own care. It also helps to provide comfort and support during a difficult time, allowing the person to feel valued and cared for. Option A is not recommended as it takes away the dying person's autonomy and choice, and Option B is not recommended as hiding or minimizing the truth can lead to feelings of betrayal and distress. Option C is also not recommended as it is not truthful and can lead to false hope.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about contemporary attitudes toward death is true?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that death anxiety is widespread in contemporary society, with many individuals experiencing fear and apprehension of death.

Answer: B 
 It is common for individuals to experience the death of someone they know well before reaching adulthood.

Answer: C 
 Tasks that involve confronting death directly, such as planning funerals or attending to legal matters, are often taken care of by family members and loved ones of all ages.

Answer: D 
 Exposure to frequent images of death in the media may desensitize individuals to some extent, but it does not necessarily eliminate death anxiety entirely. Death anxiety can still be present even in those who have been exposed to such images.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about helping a loved one die a "good death" is true?

Accepted Answer

Being candid about death's certainty can help the dying person face the reality of their situation and prepare for their death. Avoiding discussion of death can lead to denial and missed opportunities for meaningful conversations and closure. However, it is also important to respect the wishes of the dying person and engage in conversations that they are comfortable with. Discussing the past can be important for reminiscing and sharing memories, but it is also important to address current concerns and emotions related to the impending death. It is normal and healthy for loved ones to express their grief, and concealing or minimizing it can be detrimental to their own emotional well-being as well as the dying person's. While the dying person may need time alone, it is important to stay available and offer support when needed.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about gender differences in death anxiety is true?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that across various cultures, women tend to report higher levels of death anxiety compared to men. This trend is observed in both Eastern and Western societies.

Question 7

Which of the following individuals will likely experience the lowest level of death anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Older adults, like Marvin, often experience lower levels of death anxiety compared to younger individuals, possibly due to greater life experience, acceptance, and the natural progression towards the end of life.

Question 8

Queenie,age 95,sees death as an opportunity to pass a legacy to her grandchildren and their grandchildren.As a result,she does not fear death.Queenie has a sense of

Accepted Answer

Symbolic immortality refers to the idea that individuals can live on through the legacies they leave behind, such as their impact on others or the contributions they have made to society. Queenie's view of death as an opportunity to pass on her legacy indicates that she has a sense of symbolic immortality. She may still have some level of death anxiety, as this is a common human experience, but it is not the most prominent aspect of her worldview in this scenario. Ego integrity and body transcendence may also be present, but they are not as directly related to Queenie's willingness to embrace death as an opportunity for legacy-building.

Question 9

The development of a national organ transplant program has been hindered in Japan because

Accepted Answer

In Japan, the standard of death is absence of heartbeat and respiration, which makes it difficult to use organs for transplantation because they can only be collected from individuals who have died in a hospital and their hearts are still beating. It is different from the standard used in most countries, which is brain death. This has hindered the development of a national organ transplant program in Japan.

Question 10

In industrialized countries,

Accepted Answer

With advances in medical technology, people are more likely to die in hospitals or hospices rather than at home. This means that opportunities to witness the physical aspects of death have become less common in industrialized countries compared to previous generations. Option A and B are incorrect because most people die in medical facilities in industrialized countries. Option D is not supported by any evidence and is therefore incorrect.

Question 11

Mr.Johnson was in a skiing accident.He suffered traumatic head injuries when he came in contact with a tree.Mr.Johnson's cerebral cortex no longer registers electrical activity,but his brain stem remains active.Mr.Johnson

Accepted Answer

Mr. Johnson's cerebral cortex no longer registers electrical activity, but his brain stem remains active. This indicates that he has entered a persistent vegetative state. It is important to note that while he may be considered clinically dead, he is not brain dead as his brain stem is still active. The agonal phase of death refers to the final moments of life, and the mortality phase is not a recognized term in relation to the stages of death.

Question 12

During mortality,

Accepted Answer

Mortality refers to the state of being subject to death, and when an individual passes into permanent death, it means that life functions have ceased irreversibly.

Question 13

In the days or hours before death,

Accepted Answer

As the body begins to shut down, the circulatory system also slows down, leading to a decrease in blood flow to the extremities such as hands and feet. This can cause them to feel cool to the touch. Thirst, reddish skin color, and a rise in body temperature are not necessarily common symptoms of impending death.

Question 14

Dr.Snyder decided to devote her career to the study of death and dying.Dr.Snyder's interdisciplinary field is

Accepted Answer

Thanatology is the interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of death, dying, and bereavement. Gerontology is the study of aging, geriatrics is the medical care of older adults, and anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures. Therefore, the best choice is B, thanatology.

Question 15

In a study of devout __________,certain factors that appear repeatedly in Westerners' responses to death,such as fear of the body decaying and of the unknown,are absent.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study of devout __________,certain factors...

Question 16

Knowing his last days were near,Harrison chose to die at home.He was clear-minded during his final hours,allowing him to review his life and say farewell.Like Harrison,

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, Harrison's death was gentle and peaceful, indicating that he experienced a gentle death. The passage does not provide information on the percentage of people who experience a long and drawn-out death, or the proportion of Americans who die at home. The information given does not suggest that most people experience a quick, agony-free death.

Question 17

During the clinical death phase,

Accepted Answer

During the clinical death phase, heartbeat, circulation, breathing, and brain functioning stop. While resuscitation may still be possible during this phase, it is important to note that the individual is no longer exhibiting signs of life and prompt medical intervention is necessary. Muscle spasms and gasping are more likely to occur during the agonal phase, which can precede clinical death. Permanent death occurs after there has been irreversible damage to the brain and other vital organs.

Question 18

When the transition from life to death is imminent,a person often moves through which of the following three phases?

Accepted Answer

The three phases a person often moves through when the transition from life to death is imminent are the agonal phase, clinical death, and mortality. The agonal phase is the period just before clinical death, during which the body is going through physiological changes as it begins to shut down. Clinical death is when the heartbeat and breathing have stopped, and blood is no longer circulating to the brain. Mortality is the phase when irreversible damage to the body's organs and tissues occurs, leading to biological death.

Question 19

Death anxiety is especially low among adults

Accepted Answer

People with deep faith in some form of higher force or being tend to have a sense of purpose and meaning in life, which may enhance their ability to cope with the idea of death. They may also believe in an afterlife and have a sense of comfort in the belief that they will be reunited with loved ones or rewarded for living a good life.

Question 20

The greatest dignity in death is in

Accepted Answer

The integrity of one's life prior to death is the greatest dignity as it speaks to the character, values, and impact of the person's life. Succumbing suddenly or passing without narcotic drug use may not necessarily reflect the quality of the person's life or character. Overcoming pain without complaint is admirable but may not be possible for everyone and does not speak to the overall dignity in death.

Quiz 19: Death, dying, and Bereavement