Deck 17: Death, Dying, and Grieving

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of the changing historical circumstances involving death in the United States?

A) Life expectancy has decreased from 79 years for someone born in 1900 to 47 years for someone born today.
B) The care of a dying older person has shifted away from the family.
C) Today, death occurs most often among adolescents.
D) Nowadays, greater numbers of older adults die cared for by their family.

Answer 1

The care of a dying older person has shifted away from the family.

Question 2

Which of the following was considered to be a clear sign of death in the past?

A) a flat EEG (electroencephalogram)
B) moderate brain stem function
C) lack of higher cortical brain function
D) rigor mortis

Answer 2

rigor mortis

Question 3

Which of the following organizations created a legal document that reflects a patient's advance care planning?

A) Death Wish Commune
B) Choice in Dying
C) Euthanasia Undertaking
D) Death Drive Pact

Answer 3

Choice in Dying

Question 4

Which of the following was considered to be clear signs of death 25 years ago?

A) a flat EEG (electroencephalogram) reading for a specified period of time
B) the end of certain biological functions such as breathing
C) the end of electrical activity in the brain
D) the lack of response to sensory stimuli

Question 5

In 1900, most people died

A) in a hospital, cared for by medical staff.
B) in a nursing home.
C) at home, cared for by their family.
D) at a hospice.

Question 6

Naomi and Carla are first-year medical students. They are currently learning about the brain and its functions. Naomi is of the opinion that the cortical death definition should be adopted as the criterion for death. However, Carla disagrees with her. Which of the following statements best explains why Carla disagrees with Naomi?

A) The cortical function areas of the brain monitor the heartbeat and respiration. If the cortical death definition were adopted, then physicians could declare a person dead as soon as the heartbeat and respiration stop.
B) The functions one associates with being human, such as intelligence and personality, are located in the lower brain stem areas. Physicians believe that when these functions are lost, the "human being" is no longer alive.
C) If the cortical death definition were adopted, then physicians could declare that a person is dead when there is no cortical functioning in that person, even though the lower brain stem is functioning.
D) Individuals whose higher brain areas have died will not be able to breathe and have a heartbeat.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of a living will?

A) It is a legally binding document that comes into effect when the individual who signed the document passes away.
B) Only the terminally ill can write a living will.
C) The next of kin can write a living will for a patient if the patient is in a coma.
D) It is an advanced directive that is accepted by laws in all 50 states in the United States.

Question 8

In the Gond culture of India, death is believed to be caused by

A) natural forces.
B) an angry supreme being.
C) the ill will of others in the community.
D) magic and demons.

Question 9

A(n) ________ refers to a legal document that reflects the patient's advance care planning.

A) last request
B) dying will
C) living will
D) easy death order

Question 10

Euthanasia is otherwise known as

A) easy death.
B) death wish.
C) involuntary death.
D) painless death.

Question 11

If the cortical death definition were adopted, then physicians could claim a person is dead when his or her ________ brain area is no longer functioning.

A) lower
B) middle
C) higher
D) entire

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of the American attitude toward death?

A) Americans consider death of the biological body as the end of existence.
B) Americans do not believe in a spiritual body that lives on after death.
C) Belief in reincarnation is a defining aspect of the American belief about death.
D) Americans are generally death avoiders and death deniers.

Question 13

Laws in ________ states (in the United States) accept advance directives/living wills as reflecting an individual's wishes.

A) 40
B) 45
C) 48
D) 50

Question 14

The ________ portions of the brain often die sooner than the ________ portions.

A) lower; higher
B) lower; middle
C) higher; lower
D) middle; lower

Question 15

Angelique is in the final stage of breast cancer. Her latest reports indicate that the cancer cells have spread to her lungs and other organs. She knows that she does not have a chance to fight this battle and hence accepts the fact that she will die in a couple of weeks. She requests her doctor to end her life painlessly through medication as she is not able to bear the pain. Which of the following acts is Angelique requesting her doctor to perform?

A) aphasia
B) asphyxia
C) euthanasia
D) dysthanasia

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true of the document known as Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)?

A) POLST involves a health-care professional and a patient or surrogate conferring to determine and state the wishes of the patient.
B) POLST comes into effect after a patient who signed the document passes away.
C) POLST is accepted in all 50 states in the United States.
D) POLST was initiated many years ago and hence it is not as specific as some of the recent advance directives.

Question 17

Brain death occurs when

A) all electrical activity of the brain has ceased for a specified period of time.
B) a person remains unconscious for a specified period of time.
C) only the lower regions of the brain stop functioning.
D) the body loses the ability to breathe on its own.

Question 18

An advance directive, such as a living will, must be signed when

A) at least two medical professionals are present.
B) a doctor and a lawyer are present.
C) an individual is told he or she has a life-threatening condition.
D) an individual is able to think clearly.

Question 19

A flat EEG (electroencephalogram) recording for a specified period of time is a criterion of

A) rigor mortis.
B) euthanasia.
C) brain death.
D) paralysis.

Question 20

Meghan is interning as a neurosurgeon in a children's hospital. During one of her hospital visits, a child is brought into the emergency trauma center. A senior doctor asks Meghan to examine the child and note down the child's vital statistics. Meghan notices that the EEG (electroencephalogram) reading has been showing a flat line for a long time. In this scenario, the flat EEG reading is most likely a criterion of ________.

A) rigor mortis
B) concussions
C) brain death
D) epileptic seizures

Question 21

Active euthanasia is legal in the state of

A) California.
B) Florida.
C) New York.
D) Oregon.

Question 22

Which of the following individuals would most likely be considered for hospice care?

A) Monica who suffers from terminal cancer and has only 2-3 months to live
B) Brad who has been diagnosed with AIDS and has just begun treatment for his condition
C) Martha who suffers from high cholesterol levels that have caused cardiovascular disease
D) Nigel who has a genetic disorder from birth and hence needs special attention at home and school

Question 23

The type of care that is designed to reduce pain and suffering and help individuals die with dignity is known as ________ care.

A) curative
B) palliative
C) terminal
D) compassionate

Question 24

What do studies say of the American attitude toward euthanasia after the Terri Schiavo incident?

A) The general public and experts entirely agree on the precise boundaries of implementing the practice of euthanasia.
B) General population favors active euthanasia.
C) There is a trend toward accepting passive euthanasia in cases of terminally ill patients.
D) The inflammatory argument of equating the practice of euthanasia with suicide has increased substantially.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true of assisted suicide?

A) Canada was the first country to give legal status to assisted suicide.
B) In some states of the United States where assisted suicide is illegal, the crime is typically considered manslaughter or a felony.
C) The U.S. government has an official policy on assisted suicide, and it decides the legality of assisted suicide in any state.
D) Assisted suicide is legal in Europe except in Switzerland, Luxemburg, and Belgium.

Question 26

Mike is an American citizen residing in Colorado. He is diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He decides to undergo chemotherapy, but his doctor informs him that there is only a slim chance for an improvement in his condition. The doctor also tells him that he has only a few weeks to live. Suffering from deep pain and discomfort, Mike loses the hope to live. He then requests his doctor to provide a lethal injection that can be self-administered. After consulting his family and completing the paperwork, he self-administers the injection and passes away peacefully. Which of the following statements is true of this scenario?

A) This is a case of active euthanasia.
B) This is a case of passive euthanasia.
C) This is a case of assisted suicide.
D) This is a case of involuntary manslaughter.

Question 27

Wilma is considering hospice care for her elderly father. She reaches out to a few hospice care agencies to know more about this program. She is aware that the idea behind this program is to make the end of life for a patient as free from pain, anxiety, and depression as possible and not to find a cure for an illness. The agencies inform her about another important purpose of this program. In this scenario, which of the following is most likely a purpose of hospice care?

A) to eliminate Americans' fear of death
B) to provide high-quality medical intervention in a homelike setting
C) to aid dying patients to face death with dignity
D) to reduce wasteful expenditures on aggressive medical treatments for patients with little hope of survival

Question 28

James is suffering from liver cancer and has been informed by his doctor that he has only a few weeks left to live. He is not able to cope with the pain and is also aware that there is no medication to treat his condition at this stage. Which of the following options will James most likely choose if he wishes to make the end of his life as free from pain, anxiety, and depression as possible?

A) an asylum
B) hospital stay
C) hospice
D) compassionate care

Question 29

Sometimes euthanasia is called

A) "honor killing."
B) "mercy killing."
C) "quick death."
D) "violent death."

Question 30

Damon met with a car accident 4 years ago and has been terminally ill since then. He suffered multiple fractures to his skull that caused him to slip into a coma. He has been in a vegetative state for over 3 years now. His family finally agrees to end his suffering by turning off his respirator. In this scenario, the withholding of the respirator is an example of ________ euthanasia.

A) passive
B) active
C) natural
D) acceptable

Question 31

Basilio, a cocaine addict, sustained severe and irreversible brain damage because of an accidental overdose of drugs. After spending weeks in the hospital, he did not show any signs of improvement. His wife and children then decided to request the hospital authorities to remove his life-support system in order to allow Basilio to die. In this scenario, the withholding of the life-support system is an example of ________ euthanasia.

A) active
B) passive
C) natural
D) culturally acceptable

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true of hospice care?

A) Hospice care emphasizes the need to limit the administration of painkillers to terminally ill patients.
B) Hospice care mainly emphasizes efforts to cure an illness.
C) Hospice care focuses on efforts to prolong life.
D) Hospice care emphasizes palliative care.

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of active euthanasia?

A) injecting a lethal dose of a drug to a terminally ill patient
B) turning off the respirator of a comatose patient
C) removing a heart-lung machine of an individual in a vegetative state
D) stopping the supply of antibiotics to a person with a viral infection

Question 34

Martha, who is 80 years old, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the last few weeks, her pain has increased tremendously. Her doctor is trying his best to cure her illness, but the cancer cells have spread and chemotherapy is taking a toll on Martha's overall health. Considering her age, Martha is reluctant to be admitted in the hospital for long as she wants to die peacefully surrounded by her family. She has been advised by her family to consider hospice as it would

A) cure her illness and prolong her life.
B) make the end of her life as free from pain and anxiety as possible.
C) emphasize death as a process that takes place over years and even decades.
D) convince her to avoid the truth that her death is imminent.

Question 35

Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including

A) the Netherlands and Belgium.
B) Africa and India.
C) Canada and Sweden.
D) China and Japan.

Question 36

Terry is in the final stages of skin cancer, a condition that causes her severe pain and discomfort. At Terry's insistence and her family's approval, her doctor agrees to end her pain by administering a lethal dose of a drug. This is an example of ________ euthanasia.

A) passive
B) universally legal
C) natural
D) active

Question 37

Turning off a respirator or a heart-lung machine is an example of ________ euthanasia.

A) active
B) deliberate
C) passive
D) sustained

Question 38

In which of the following states is assisted suicide not considered a crime?

A) Nevada
B) Texas
C) Washington
D) New York

Question 39

Which of the following statements is true of better care for dying individuals?

A) Many health-care professionals have received little training to provide adequate end-of-life care or to understand its importance.
B) In every case, doctors usually provide ample information to the dying individuals about how long they are likely to live.
C) Scientific advances have always made dying easier by hardly delaying the inevitable.
D) Care providers are increasingly losing interest in helping individuals experience a "good death."

Question 40

Which of the following does a "good death" involve?

A) avoiding the fact that death is imminent
B) dying in a hospital away from family and friends
C) religious or community death rites
D) appropriate medical care

Question 41

According to Kübler-Ross, ________ is the stage of dying in which a person develops the hope that death can somehow be postponed or delayed.

A) bargaining
B) acceptance
C) depression
D) anger

Question 42

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross believed that when a person is dying of a terminal illness, depression is

A) a temporary phase that friends and family should help the person through as quickly as possible.
B) the first phase a person goes through when he or she learns that death is imminent.
C) part of the normal process of detaching the self from love objects.
D) an uncommon reaction that signals that the person needs professional counseling to cope with death.

Question 43

Irene, a terminally ill cancer patient, has finally accepted the certainty of her death. Now, she refuses to have any visitors in her hospital room and spends most of her time crying and grieving. In this scenario, Irene is most likely in which of the following stages of dying?

A) anger
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) depression

Question 44

Hospice advocates emphasize

A) that it is possible to limit the administration of pain medication and prevent addiction.
B) finding new treatments for many incurable diseases.
C) finding a cure for all dying individuals.
D) the advantages of controlling pain for dying individuals.

Question 45

Which of the following is Kübler-Ross' fourth stage of dying?

A) depression
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) anger

Question 46

In the context of Kübler-Ross' stages of dying, in the ________ stage, the dying person recognizes that denial can no longer be maintained.

A) anger
B) bargaining
C) acceptance
D) isolation

Question 47

Myette's doctor tells her that she has breast cancer and that her tests show that the cancer has spread to her lungs, liver, and other vital organs. Myette says, "I don't think I have cancer. I feel great. The lab obviously has my test results mixed up with someone else's. I'm still young and have so many more years to live." In the context of Kübler-Ross' stages of dying, Myette is in the stage of dying referred to as ________.

A) anger
B) denial and isolation
C) bargaining
D) depression and acceptance

Question 48

"No, it can't be me. It's not possible," thinks Clara when she hears the news of her terminal illness. In this scenario, Clara is in which of the following Kübler-Ross' stages of dying?

A) acceptance
B) bargaining
C) denial and isolation
D) depression

Question 49

Which of the following statements is an accurate criticism of Kübler-Ross' theory of dying?

A) She underestimates the amount of time people stay in the anger stage.
B) She did not consider that men and women go through each stage differently.
C) She did not demonstrate the existence of the five-stage sequence.
D) She ignored that most people do not realize they are dying.

Question 50

Ada knows that she has liver cancer and that she will not live much longer. Based on her mother's advice, she joins a prayer group and begins attending church regularly. In her prayers, she asks God to let her live one more year and promises God that she will set everything right with her family and loved ones. In the context of Kübler-Ross' stages of dying, Ada is most likely in the ________ stage.

A) bargaining
B) denial
C) anger
D) acceptance

Question 51

Which of the following is Kübler-Ross' fifth stage of dying?

A) depression
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) anger

Question 52

Which of the following is Kübler-Ross' third stage of dying?

A) denial and isolation
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) anger

Question 53

According to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which of the following is the second stage of dying?

A) denial and isolation
B) bargaining
C) acceptance
D) anger

Question 54

Josue has incurable cancer. However, he promises to lead a reformed life dedicated to God if God spares his life. In this scenario, Josue is in which of the following Kübler-Ross' stages of dying?

A) denial
B) hope
C) bargaining
D) acceptance

Question 55

According to Kübler-Ross, during the ________ stage of dying, the realization of loss is great and those who symbolize life, energy, and competent functioning are especially salient targets of the dying person's resentment and jealousy.

A) bargaining
B) anger
C) depression
D) acceptance

Question 56

Which of the following can be the most useful benefit of denying one's imminent death?

A) Denial allows the person to fully address the issue of death.
B) Denial helps shield family members from negative feelings.
C) Denial encourages the person to further develop his or her understanding of what will happen after death.
D) Denial can help insulate the dying person from coping with intense feelings of anger.

Question 57

According to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which of the following is the first stage of dying?

A) denial and isolation
B) bargaining
C) acceptance
D) depression

Question 58

Rueben has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has been told by his doctor that he has only a few more weeks to live. He is shocked as he thought his symptoms were merely because of chest congestion and that they were not too serious. After speaking with the doctor, he comes to know that his death is imminent and there is nothing he can do about it. He thinks that it is unfair because he has never smoked a cigarette all his life. He starts questioning himself and his loved ones "Why me?" In the context of Kübler-Ross' stages of dying, which stage is most likely exemplified in this scenario?

A) acceptance
B) denial
C) bargaining
D) anger

Question 59

In the context of Kübler-Ross' stages of dying, after accepting the certainty of death, a period of ________ or preparatory grief may appear.

A) anger
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) depression

Question 60

Kübler-Ross describes the ________ stage as the end of the dying struggle.

A) anger
B) acceptance
C) bargaining
D) depression

Question 61

A study of more than 1,000 college students by Currier, Holland, and Neimeyer found that ________ was an important factor in their grieving of a violent loss by accident, homicide, or suicide.

A) making sense
B) denial and isolation
C) bargaining
D) perceived control

Question 62

Delilah lost her husband Hendricks in a highway accident. Being just 3 years into marriage, she was devastated. 4 months later, she was hassled by problems such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, sleep disturbance, and problems in concentrating. Delilah is probably experiencing

A) post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
B) restoration-oriented stress.
C) post-traumatic embitterment disorder.
D) separation anxiety.

Question 63

Which of the following is an effective strategy for communicating with a dying person?

A) Discourage the dying person from expressing any form of guilt or anger.
B) Insist that the dying person feel acceptance about death even if the dying person wants to deny the reality of the situation.
C) Encourage the dying person to express feelings, but discourage the dying person from reminiscing.
D) Eliminate distraction-for example, ask the dying person if it is okay to turn off the TV.

Question 64

Most psychologists believe that it is best for dying individuals to

A) be unaware of their condition.
B) limit their interaction with others.
C) know that they are dying.
D) distance themselves from family and friends.

Question 65

According to several studies conducted about the contexts in which people die, most individuals say they would rather die

A) in a hospice.
B) in a nursing home.
C) in a hospital.
D) at home.

Question 66

Which of the following most resembles the grieving process?

A) a year-long period of major depression
B) a roller coaster ride of emotions
C) an orderly progression of stages
D) a period of negative feelings that lasts around 3 months

Question 67

Which of the following is true of reactions of widowed individuals following the death of a spouse?

A) Most tend to get back to normal life after a brief grieving period.
B) They were likely to intensify their religious and spiritual beliefs.
C) They were keen to get back into marital relations as early as possible.
D) Most of them experienced prolonged grief periods and developed depressive symptoms.

Question 68

Prolonged grief disorder is also known as ________ grief.

A) depressive
B) complicated
C) abnormal
D) extended

Question 69

________ describes an individual's grief over a deceased person that is a socially ambiguous loss and cannot be openly mourned or supported.

A) Complicated grief
B) Prolonged grief
C) Extended grief
D) Disenfranchised grief

Question 70

An intermittent, recurrent wish or need to recover the deceased person is known as

A) grief.
B) pining.
C) mourning.
D) obsession.

Question 71

Identify a true statement about the trends in the contexts in which people choose to die in the United States.

A) Less than 20 percent of Americans choose to die in hospitals.
B) An increasing number of people choose to die in the humane atmosphere of a hospice.
C) Individuals typically prefer to die in hospitals than at homes.
D) More than 80 percent of Americans choose to die in nursing homes.

Question 72

According to research studies, which of the following statements about widows is true?

A) Widows outnumbered widowers by eight to one.
B) Widows usually receive large insurance settlements at the death of their spouse.
C) A widow is more likely to remarry than a widower.
D) Volunteering reduced widowed older adults' loneliness.

Question 73

When Kendall was in college, she discovered that she was pregnant. Since she was not ready to have a baby at that age, she went through a medical abortion. Post the procedure, Kendall felt very low and upset and could not grieve openly as she wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret from everyone. Years later, when she had a miscarriage, she started grieving for the baby she lost and for the baby she had aborted. In this scenario, identify the type of grief Kendall is most likely displaying.

A) complicated grief
B) prolonged grief
C) extended grief
D) disenfranchised grief

Question 74

________ can be used to avoid the destructive impact of shock by delaying the necessity of dealing with one's death.

A) Acceptance
B) Denial
C) Anger
D) Depression

Question 75

________ is the emotional numbness, disbelief, separation anxiety, despair, sadness, and loneliness that accompany the loss of a loved one.

A) Grief
B) Anger
C) Obsession
D) Denial

Question 76

Jamie lost his wife many years ago. He is still experiencing enduring despair a year after her death. According to Prigerson and Maciejewski, this type of grief reaction would be labeled as ________ grief.

A) depressive
B) extended
C) abnormal
D) prolonged

Question 77

Other than pining for the lost person, which of the following is another dimension of grief over death?

A) depression
B) insomnia
C) separation anxiety
D) death wish

Question 78

Which of the following statements is true of the popularity of cremation?

A) Cremation is usually more popular in the United States than in Canada.
B) Cremation is more popular in the Pacific region of the United States than in the South.
C) Cremation is least popular in Japan and Asian countries.
D) Cremation percentage in the United Sates has reduced since 1985.

Question 79

Deaths that are sudden, violent, or traumatic are likely to

A) produce less intense feelings in survivors than if the person died of a long illness.
B) produce a shorter grieving process for the survivors than if the person died of a long illness.
C) produce more intense feelings in survivors than if the person died of a long illness.
D) produce no difference in either the intensity or the duration of the feelings in survivors than if the person died of a long illness.

Question 80

Which of the following is an advantage of a dying individual knowing that he or she is dying?

A) The person can seek more aggressive medical interventions.
B) The person can move through the stages of dying more quickly.
C) The person can construct more effective means of denying death.
D) The person can close their lives in a way that is consistent with their own ideas about proper dying.