NCMA 218: BIOETHICS FINALS

WEEK 11: DEATH AND DYING

 Birth and Death are two aspects of life, which will

happen to everyone.
 Dying and death are painful and personal
experiences for those that are dying and their loved
for them.
 DEATH
- is defined as the irreversible cessation of all vital
functions especially heart, respiration, and
higher brain function.
- DYING means, “Approaching Death”.
 CARE OF DEATH AND DYING
- Meeting that needs of dying individuals
- Assessing the Physiological signs of approaching
death.
o Physical Care
o Psychological Care
o Social Care
o Spiritual Care
 The role of the nurse (Hospice nurse) during active
dying phase is to support the patient and family by
educating them on what they might expect to
happen during this time, addressing their questions
and concerns honestly.
 Physiological definition
- Clinical death - is the medical term for cessation
of blood circulation and breathing, the two
necessary criteria to sustain human and many
other organisms' lives. Occurs when the heart
stops beating in a regular rhythm, a condition
called cardiac arrest.
 Religious or philosophical
- Separation of soul and body
 Brain death
- Brain is completely destroyed, cessation of all
other organs are immenent and inevitable (EEG
and ECG)
 Cellular
- Disintegration and breakdown of the metabolic
processes of the body’s substance. Irreversible
loss of neo-cortical activity.