Question 1

Palliative care:

Accepted Answer

Palliative care provides relief from physical pain and other symptoms for patients with serious illnesses. It is not a legal term for a living will and can occur in various settings, including hospice. Whether or not it is acceptable to a particular religion is subjective and varies.

Question 2

Medications for pain relief were once underprescribed for the terminally ill primarily because:

Accepted Answer

Medications for pain relief, particularly opioids, were underprescribed for the terminally ill due to concerns about their addictive nature, despite the need for effective pain management in these patients.

Question 3

The goal of palliative care is to:

Accepted Answer

The goal of palliative care is to relieve patients from pain and suffering, improve their quality of life, and support their families during serious illness. It is not aimed at curing the disease, but managing its symptoms and addressing the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of patients. Palliative care is not limited to those in the terminal phase of a disease, but is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness.

Question 4

According to Maslow, which of the following is a stage involved in the dying process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Maslow, which of the following...

Question 5

Hospice care is expensive because it:

Accepted Answer

Hospice care is labor-intensive as it requires specialized healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing end-of-life care to patients. This includes nurses, doctors, social workers, and spiritual counselors who provide 24/7 support to patients and their families. The cost of employing such a specialized team of professionals and providing round-the-clock care is one of the primary reasons why hospice care can be expensive.

Question 6

Juanita has just been evaluated by medical professionals. She cannot move any part of her body except for her eyes, but brain waves are still apparent. The doctor explains that Juanita is not dead, but:

Accepted Answer

Juanita's ability to only move her eyes indicates that she has locked-in syndrome, which is a condition where the individual is conscious but cannot move or speak due to complete paralysis of their body. This is different from brain death, where there is no brain activity, coma, where the individual is unconscious and unable to respond to stimuli, or a vegetative state, where the person is awake but unaware of their surroundings and unable to communicate.

Question 7

A person is in a state of deep unconsciousness from which he or she cannot be aroused has:

Accepted Answer

Brain death is a state of irreversible loss of all brain function, including the brainstem. A person in a state of brain death is legally dead, even if their heart is still beating.

Question 8

The definition of death that has been used by professionals around the world for the past several decades states that death occurs when:

Accepted Answer

The definition of death that has been used by professionals around the world for the past several decades states that death occurs when brain waves cease. This is also known as brain death, which is different from clinical death (when the heart stops beating). Brain death is considered irreversible and marks the legal determination of death in most countries.

Question 9

Medication that relieves pain and also hastens death has a:

Accepted Answer

The administration of medication that relieves pain and also hastens death is known as the principle of double effect. It is a moral principle that allows the prescribing of medication to relieve pain even if it may also hasten death as a secondary effect. The primary intention of the medication is to relieve pain, not hasten death. This principle is often used in palliative care to ensure that patients are comfortable and free from pain.

Question 10

In what way has modern medicine made a good death more likely?

Accepted Answer

Modern medicine has led to improved treatments, medications, and preventative measures that have increased overall levels of health and extended lifespans, making it more likely for individuals to die in old age rather than from preventable illnesses or accidents. Additionally, modern palliative care and hospice programs offer supportive care and pain management for individuals approaching the end of life, helping to ensure a more comfortable and peaceful death.

Question 11

Researchers who have subsequently investigated Kübler-Ross's stages have found that:

Accepted Answer

Studies have found that not everyone experiences all of the stages Kübler-Ross described and that some individuals experience the stages in a different order or may skip stages altogether. Some people may re-experience stages they have already gone through.

Question 12

Which of the following is a common barrier to hospice care?

Accepted Answer

Many patients and their families may have difficulty accepting that death is near and may resist the idea of hospice care. However, hospice care can provide comfort and support to both the patient and their loved ones during this difficult time. Option B is incorrect because patients can receive hospice care for longer than two weeks, as long as they meet certain criteria. Option C is also incorrect; studies have shown that most people actually prefer to die at home or in a hospice setting rather than in a hospital. Option D is incorrect; hospice care is available in many countries, not just England.

Question 13

Which of the following descriptions is NOT characteristic of a good death?

Accepted Answer

Being alone is not characteristic of a good death as most people desire to be surrounded by loved ones during their final moments.

Question 14

According to Kübler-Ross, the first stage of dying is:

Accepted Answer

According to Kübler-Ross's model, the first stage of dying is denial, which may include feelings of shock and disbelief. This is often followed by other stages such as anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Question 15

About what percentage of individuals admitted to hospice die before the end of the first week of hospice care?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that approximately one-third (33%) of individuals admitted to hospice care die within the first week.

Question 16

Mrs. Cannon has been diagnosed as terminally ill, but she insists that she will recover and believes that her laboratory results were mixed up or misinterpreted. Kübler-Ross would say that Mrs. Cannon is in the stage of:

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Cannon's refusal to accept her terminal illness and belief that her laboratory results were incorrect or misinterpreted suggest that she is in the denial stage. This is the stage in which individuals may deny or refuse to accept the reality of their situation.

Question 17

Opiates have a double effect, meaning that they both:

Accepted Answer

Opiates have a dual effect of relieving pain and slowing respiratory function. This respiratory depression can ultimately lead to death, which is one of the reasons why opiates are a high-risk drug.

Question 18

Laura has just entered a hospice. She can expect:

Accepted Answer

Hospices specialize in providing comfort care for patients with terminal illnesses. One of the main focuses of hospice care is pain management to ensure the patient's comfort. Artificial life-support systems are typically not used in hospice care, as the focus is on quality of life rather than extending life through aggressive medical treatments. Visiting hours may be restricted to allow for rest, but family and close friends are typically encouraged to visit as often as possible. Resuscitation may be discussed and decided upon in advance, but the focus of hospice care is on providing a peaceful and comfortable end-of-life experience rather than aggressive medical intervention.

Question 19

Dr. Rodriguez specializes in the relief of pain and suffering. She frequently prescribes pain medicines like morphine for the terminally ill patients she sees in the hospital. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Rodriguez specializes in palliative care, which is focused on relieving pain and improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients. This often involves the use of pain medications like morphine. Pharmacy is not her specialty, as she is not responsible for dispensing medication. Physician-assisted suicide is not a part of her practice, as her focus is on alleviating pain rather than ending life. Thanatology is the study of death and dying, which may be related to her work but is not her specific area of expertise.

Question 20

After an extensive review of studies on end of life brain functioning, researchers confirmed two indicators of death:

Accepted Answer

The answer of After an extensive review of studies on...

Quiz 16: Epilogue: Death and Dying