Deck 19: Death, dying, and Bereavement

Question 1

Which of the following is an essential ingredient of a "good death"?

A)offering the dying person care,affection,and companionship
B)hiding the truth about the diagnosis from the dying person
C)avoiding discussions about the past
D)giving the dying person time alone

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Because of life-saving medical technology,

A)most people experience death with little pain.
B)three-fourths of deaths are sudden.
C)three-fourths of deaths are long and drawn out.
D)most deaths are caused by accidents rather than illnesses.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Mrs.Hensley is dying.Her heartbeat,circulation,breathing,and brain functioning stop but resuscitation is still possible.She is experiencing

A)the agonal phase of death.
B)clinical death.
C)brain death.
D)mortality.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Mr.Wixom is dying.His wife wants to help him have a dignified exit.In communicating with Mr.Wixom,she should

A)talk about the past and avoid discussing his impending death.
B)assure him that she will support him through his physical and psychological distress.
C)tell him that he is going to get better soon.
D)conceal or minimize her own grief.

Question 5

Which of the following contributes to a sense of uneasiness about death for many Western adults?

A)early experiences with death before they were emotionally prepared to deal with it
B)a lack of spiritual fulfillment and questions about the afterlife
C)images of death portrayed in television shows,movies,and news reports
D)the lack of experience and knowledge that most people have about death and dying

Question 6

Most people die

A)at home.
B)in the presence of family.
C)of heart attacks.
D)in hospitals.

Question 7

Walter states that the thought of never feeling anything again after he dies upsets him.Walter is experiencing

A)morbidity.
B)mortality.
C)isolation.
D)death anxiety.

Question 8

Mr.Shanteau was in a snowmobile accident.The doctor informed his family that his cerebral cortex no longer registered electrical activity but the brain stem remained active.Mr.Shanteau is

A)in the agonal phase of death.
B)in a persistent vegetative state.
C)experiencing a brain death.
D)experiencing a terminal death.

Question 9

Mr.Bigelow is in the final stage of cancer.During the first moments in which the regular heartbeat disintegrates,he gasps and has muscle spasms.Mr.Bigelow is experiencing

A)the agonal phase of death.
B)clinical death.
C)brain death.
D)mortality.

Question 10

People who are _________ are likely to have more severe death concerns.

A)in poor physical health
B)depressed
C)religious
D)childless

Question 11

Mrs.Peabody was in an automobile accident.The doctor informed her family that there has been an irreversible cessation of all activity in the brain and the brain stem.Mrs.Peabody is experiencing

A)the agonal phase of death.
B)clinical death.
C)brain death.
D)mortality.

Question 12

According to your text,the greatest dignity in death is in

A)an idealized,easy end.
B)passing without pain and suffering.
C)the integrity of the life that precedes it.
D)the relinquishment of personal control over the final phase of life.

Question 13

What happens when cancer metastasizes?

A)It disappears.
B)Tumors multiply,but are benign.
C)Cancer completely overtakes one particular organ and destroys it.
D)Bits of tumor travel through the bloodstream and implant and grow in other vital organs.

Question 14

Mrs.Woodson believes that she will continue to live on through her children or through her work or personal influence.Mrs.Woodson has developed

A)ego integrity.
B)death anxiety.
C)a personal fable.
D)symbolic immortality.

Question 15

Which of the following is true about the standard of death in industrialized nations?

A)Absence of activity in the cerebral cortex is the standard of death in most industrialized nations.
B)In Japan,unlike most industrialized nations,the standard of death is brain death.
C)The standard of death in most industrialized nations is loss of heartbeat and respiration.
D)The standard of death in most industrialized nations is brain death.

Question 16

Death is

A)characterized by a loss of heartbeat and respiration.
B)usually quick and painless.
C)a process in which organs stop functioning in a sequence that varies from person to person.
D)brought on by a cessation of brain functioning.

Question 17

In the days and hours before death,

A)body temperature rises.
B)skin becomes a brighter,reddish hue.
C)the person moves and communicates less.
D)blood pressure rises.

Question 18

Among Westerners,____________ is an important factor in limiting death anxiety.

A)a sense of life's meaning
B)religious commitment
C)belief in God
D)regular prayer

Question 19

Which of the following people will likely experience little or no death anxiety?

A)Hayley,an adolescent
B)Winifred,a 100-year-old
C)Pat,a middle-aged adult
D)Joshua,a young adult

Question 20

An important service doctors and other medical professionals can provide to dying people is

A)information about their condition and their treatment options.
B)a comfortable,low-stress environment.
C)protection from too much clinical information.
D)mood enhancers to keep them cheerful and optimistic.

Question 21

Mr.Kominski is in the final days before death.He withdraws into himself for long periods of time.According to Kübler-Ross,Mr.Kominski is experiencing which typical response to the prospect of dying?

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

Question 22

Mr.Fiocanni is terminally ill.According to Kübler-Ross,Mr.Fiocanni may experience which typical response to the prospect of death after the other responses fail to postpone the illness?

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

Question 23

Mrs.Beasley is a terminally ill patient who states,"I was not ready to live until I was ready to die." Mrs.Beasley views dying as

A)imprisonment.
B)a mandate to live ever more fully.
C)part of life's journey.
D)an experience to be transformed.

Question 24

Mr.Hyun is dying.Because of their cultural beliefs,his Korean-American family will probably

A)avoid informing him of his condition because doing so hastens death.
B)forbid the doctors to talk to him about his condition because it will bring bad fortune to the family.
C)pretend there is nothing wrong in an attempt to prevent unnecessary stress.
D)talk openly and honestly about his condition,so that he can focus on resolving family conflicts before he dies.

Question 25

Family members who ______________ can make dying more difficult for a patient.

A)are inclined toward denial
B)provide end-of-life care
C)arrange for music therapy
D)do not believe in an afterlife

Question 26

According to Kübler-Ross,Mrs.Buffay's consultation of multiple specialists after her initial diagnosis of a terminal illness is consistent with which typical response to the prospect of death?

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

Question 27

While Marie's mother lay dying,she told Marie,"I'm not afraid.I have faith.I'm looking forward to what lies ahead." Marie's mother views dying as

A)a mandate to live ever more fully.
B)imprisonment.
C)part of life's journey.
D)an experience to be transformed.

Question 28

_____________ amplifies pain,impairs the immune response,and is associated with poorer survival.

A)Profound depression
B)Denial
C)Anger
D)Bargaining

Question 29

According to Kübler-Ross,engaging in sympathetic listening is the best reaction to which typical response to the prospect of death?

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

Question 30

Mr.Frankel is dying.According to Kübler-Ross,Mr.Frankel's recognition that time is short and that he will not have a chance to do all he wants to do may promote which typical response to the prospect of death?

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

Question 31

Most people who reach Kübler-Ross's acceptance stage

A)use emotion-centered coping strategies.
B)have a deep religious faith.
C)do so only in the last weeks or days of life.
D)have illnesses that cause them a great deal of physical pain.

Question 32

According to Kübler-Ross,when denial,anger,and bargaining fail to postpone the illness,the person

A)once again tries bargaining.
B)lashes out at loved ones.
C)moves into the acceptance stage.
D)becomes depressed.

Question 33

Mr.Tamagatchi is dying.He says,"I feel like I'm watching a ticking time bomb … like there is no future." Mr.Tamagatchi views dying as

A)imprisonment.
B)a mandate to live ever more fully.
C)part of life's journey.
D)an experience to be transformed.

Question 34

______________ individuals are usually more distressed during the dying process.

A)Religious
B)Nonreligious
C)Poorly adjusted
D)Older

Question 35

Kübler-Ross recommends that family members and health professionals

A)not prolong denial by distorting the truth about the person's condition.
B)be understanding about the dying person's denial and agree that his or her condition is not terminal.
C)make decisions about medical interventions for the dying person until he or she reaches acceptance.
D)bargain with the dying person when he or she is in denial,as this facilitates acceptance.

Question 36

The most serious drawback of Kübler-Ross's theory of dying is that it

A)removes dying patients' reactions from their real-life contexts.
B)was based on only a few interviews with dying people.
C)cannot be applied to people who die unexpectedly.
D)applies only to people who are not religious.

Question 37

Before Mr.Monk died,he was able to restore his relationship with his brother.Mr.Monk's death made sense in terms of his pattern of living and values.He experienced a(n)__________ death.

A)passive
B)active
C)ideal
D)appropriate

Question 38

The five reactions Kübler-Ross observed are best viewed as

A)a fixed sequence.
B)stages of denial.
C)coping strategies that anyone may call on in the face of threat.
D)maladaptive,emotion-centered coping strategies.

Question 39

Withholding information from dying patients is common in certain ethnic groups because

A)they want to prevent anger and depression.
B)dying disrupts important interdependent relationships.
C)family members,not patients,are in control of medical decisions.
D)they believe it will slow the dying process.

Question 40

When he was dying of cancer,Mr.Babcock,a lifelong bird watcher,stated,"Whenever I feel the pain or cannot catch my breath,I travel to the woods in my mind and search for the red-winged blackbird." Mr.Babcock views dying as

A)a mandate to live ever more fully.
B)imprisonment.
C)part of life's journey.
D)an experience to be transformed.

Question 41

Pat's relatives read sutras to him to calm his mind and emphasized that dying leads to rebirth in a heaven of peace and relaxation.Pat is most likely a(n)

A)African American.
B)Native American.
C)Buddhist.
D)member of the Maori tribe.

Question 42

When their mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer,the Johnson family chose a comprehensive program of support services that provided an interdisciplinary care team.The team emphasized quality of life.The Johnson family chose

A)home care.
B)an intensive care unit.
C)the hospice approach.
D)a long-term care facility.

Question 43

Cancer patients,who account for most cases of prolonged dying,typically die in

A)intensive care wards.
B)emergency rooms.
C)cancer care hospital units.
D)home settings.

Question 44

Once patients near death stop expressing hope,loved ones

A)should encourage them to hope for a cure.
B)should encourage them to hope for a miracle.
C)must accept this.
D)must maintain hope for a miracle.

Question 45

When Al lay dying,relatives and friends gathered around him to give spiritual strength and comfort.Elders and clergy conducted a karakia ceremony,in which they recited prayers asking for peace,mercy,and guidance.Al is most likely a(n)

A)African American.
B)Native American.
C)Buddhist.
D)member of the Maori tribe.

Question 46

The path of the hope trajectory for dying patients usually includes hope

A)for strength,hope for faith,and hope for a cure.
B)for a cure,hope for prolonging life,and hope for a peaceful death.
C)that the medical results were a mistake,and hope for a cure,hope for a miracle.
D)for longevity,hope for strength,and hope for peace.

Question 47

Chaplains and counselors informally report that after music vigils,patients'

A)sleep patterns are disrupted.
B)conversations indicate that they more easily come to terms with their own death.
C)alertness is heightened and they exhibit more effortful breathing.
D)anxiety increases and they are more wakeful.

Question 48

Mr.Willet had a sudden heart attack.He died in a hospital emergency room.The staff was very busy and had little time for contact with his family.Mr.Willet's family members may need

A)medication to help them with anxiety.
B)hospice services.
C)to enter a comprehensive treatment program.
D)some type of crisis intervention services.

Question 49

Music thanatology

A)focuses on providing palliative care to the dying through music.
B)can actually increase anxiety about impending death.
C)is helpful for family members of the dying,but shows little benefit for the patients themselves.
D)works only on those who are heavily medicated.

Question 50

Sam met death with stoic self-control,an approach he had been taught at an early age through stories that emphasized a circular relationship between life and death.Sam is most likely a(n)

A)African American.
B)Native American.
C)Buddhist.
D)member of the Maori tribe.

Question 51

Tom remained an active and vital force within his family until he could no longer carry out that role.Tom's illness was viewed as a crisis that united family members in caregiving.Tom is most likely a(n)

A)African American.
B)Native American.
C)Buddhist.
D)member of the Maori tribe.

Question 52

For family members,a home death is generally ___________ than a hospital death.

A)less physically taxing
B)less stressful
C)more stressful
D)more convenient

Question 53

Palliative care involves

A)care aimed at relieving pain and other symptoms,such as nausea and insomnia.
B)life-saving measures such as respirators.
C)emergency room treatment.
D)home care or an inpatient setting with a homelike atmosphere.

Question 54

Which of the following statements about hospice care is accurate?

A)On-call services are usually available from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. ,Monday through Friday.
B)About 50 percent of hospice patients die in hospitals.
C)Follow-up bereavement services are offered to families in the year after a death.
D)The benefits of hospice care have not been verified through research.

Question 55

Modern medical care has affected the choice of dying at home primarily by

A)shortening the length of time it takes to die once the body starts shutting down.
B)extending life so that dying people are older and have more difficulty living at home.
C)making medical equipment more lightweight and easier for family members to move around.
D)training medical doctors to provide care at home.

Question 56

In the United States,most deaths occur

A)at home.
B)in nursing homes.
C)in assisted care facilities.
D)in hospitals.

Question 57

Which of the following is true about dying in intensive care?

A)It allows the family privacy with the patient.
B)It provides for quality communication with the family regarding the patient's needs.
C)It is especially depersonalizing for the patient.
D)It allows the patient to die with dignity.

Question 58

Which of the following is true about nursing home deaths?

A)Care emphasizes rehabilitation rather than high-quality terminal care.
B)Residents' end-of-life preferences are recorded in medical charts.
C)Pain management education is given to staff,residents,and family members.
D)Medical treatment is focused on high-quality terminal care.

Question 59

Most Americans say they hope to die

A)at home.
B)in a nursing home.
C)in a family member's home.
D)in a hospital.

Question 60

Most hospice patients have

A)heart disease.
B)AIDS.
C)cancer.
D)dementia.

Question 61

In the United States and other Western nations,when doctors engage in voluntary active euthanasia,

A)about 70 percent of the population disapproves.
B)judges are usually strict,sentencing them to jail terms.
C)they often do so without the patient's consent.
D)judges are usually lenient,granting probation or suspended sentences.

Question 62

Mrs.Gandarilla recently experienced the death of her husband.Mrs.Gandarilla experienced

A)bereavement.
B)morbidity.
C)mortality.
D)immortality.

Question 63

Mrs.Bernstein's attorney prepared a written document in which Mrs.Bernstein authorized her daughter to make health-care decisions on her behalf.Mrs.Bernstein's document is a(n)

A)durable power of attorney for health care.
B)living will.
C)heath care plan.
D)euthanasia directive.

Question 64

Which of the following is true about the right to die in the United States?

A)The right to die was of greater concern before the 1950s because vaccinations had not yet eradicated many terminal illnesses.
B)All U.S.states have laws that honor patients' wishes concerning withdrawal of treatment,but no uniform right-to-die policy exists.
C)The Quinlan and Schiavo cases created federal right-to-die legislation.
D)No U.S.states have laws that honor patients' wishes concerning withdrawal of treatment in cases of a persistent vegetative state.

Question 65

At the patient's request,Dr.Abbott turns off the respirator of a patient who cannot breathe independently.Dr.Abbott's use of passive euthanasia is

A)an ordinary part of normal medical practice.
B)an unusual procedure that must be court ordered.
C)immoral,unethical,and rarely used in the U.S.
D)permissible only for patients who are very old.

Question 66

Dr.Summers helps terminally ill patients take their own lives by offering a lethal dose of drugs.Dr.Summers practices

A)involuntary euthanasia.
B)assisted suicide.
C)voluntary active euthanasia.
D)passive euthanasia.

Question 67

Mrs.Van Dalen experienced a cascade of emotional reactions when her mother died.She obsessively reviewed the circumstances of death,asking how she might have prevented it from happening.Mrs.Van Dalen is in which phase of the grieving process?

A)avoidance
B)confrontation
C)mourning
D)restoration

Question 68

When Mr.Wellenkamp's wife died,he responded with intense physical and psychological distress.He was experiencing

A)bereavement.
B)grief.
C)mourning.
D)morbidity.

Question 69

The U.S.Supreme Court's decision involving Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

A)explicitly allows physicians to prescribe drugs so terminally ill patients can end their lives.
B)bans assisted suicide in the United States.
C)leaves the question of the legality of assisted suicide up to the states.
D)favors assisted suicide in Oregon,and rejects the rights of other states to ban the practice.

Question 70

Public opinion consistently favors

A)banning all forms of euthanasia.
B)voluntary active euthanasia over assisted suicide.
C)assisted suicide over voluntary active euthanasia.
D)banning all forms of assisted suicide.

Question 71

Health-care proxies

A)are appointed under living wills.
B)cannot make medical decisions for patients in persistent vegetative states.
C)are an important means of covering children and adolescents.
D)are expensive and,therefore,only available to higher-SES patients.

Question 72

Dr.Williams does not believe that patients should live in persistent vegetative states.Therefore,without first obtaining the patient's consent,Dr.Williams administers a lethal dose of drugs.Dr.Williams practices

A)passive euthanasia.
B)voluntary active euthanasia.
C)assisted suicide.
D)involuntary active euthanasia.

Question 73

Which of the following statements about advance medical directives is true?

A)Durable powers of attorney for health care cannot anticipate all future medical conditions and,thus,living wills are more flexible.
B)The durable power of attorney can ensure a partner's role in decision making and in advocating for the patient's health-care needs.
C)People who do not support passive euthanasia do not need advance medical directives.
D)In all U.S.states,failure to provide an advance medical directive now results in the appointment of a health-care proxy.

Question 74

Assisting a suicide is illegal in

A)Switzerland.
B)all U.S.states.
C)Germany.
D)many,but not all,U.S.states.

Question 75

Which of the following is true about advance medical directives?

A)They are not recognized in the United States or Canada.
B)U)S.states recognize two types of advance directives: a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.
C)They guarantee personal control for terminally ill patients and those in persistent vegetative states.
D)A living will is more flexible than a durable power of attorney for health care.

Question 76

People respond to ___________ with __________.

A)bereavement;grief
B)grief;bereavement
C)mourning;bereavement
D)death education;anxiety or indifference

Question 77

Approval rates for voluntary active euthanasia tend to be higher in

A)Croatia.
B)Poland.
C)the United States.
D)Turkey.

Question 78

Mr.Bergman,his family members,and his friends dressed in black,attended his wife's funeral,and participated in a burial service.Mr.Bergman covered all of the mirrors in his house with a black cloth.He was experiencing

A)bereavement.
B)grief.
C)mourning.
D)morbidity.

Question 79

Voluntary active euthanasia is

A)not a criminal offense in most countries.
B)a criminal offense in most U.S.states.
C)covered under most private insurance plans.
D)available to all terminally ill patients in the United States.

Question 80

Mr.Kim's attorney prepared a written document in which Mr.Kim specified the treatments he did or did not want in case of a terminal illness,coma,or other near-death situation.Mr.Kim's document is a(n)

A)durable power of attorney for health care.
B)living will.
C)health-care plan.
D)euthanasia directive.