Synopsis

This unit will explore how knowledge and beliefs about death and encounters with death affect people?s lives. It will also examine the concept of a ?good death? from an individual perspective in order to enhance the quality of dying.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Learning outcomes
1.1 Living with death and dying
1.2.1 Death and Tolstoy
1.2.2 How do others find meaning in life?
1.2.3 The effect of death on life
1.2.4 Theravada Buddhism
1.2.5 Together Forever
1.2.6 Encounters with death
1.2.7 Margaret
1.2.8 Caroline
1.2.9 Nick
1.3.1 Reactions to near-death experiences
1.3.2 Recurrent themes
1.3.3 Ineffability
1.3.4 Sense of timelessness
1.3.5 Sense of reality
1.3.6 Sense of death
1.3.7 Emotional feelings
1.3.8 Separation from the physical body
1.3.9 Other common features
1.3.10 The impact of near-death experiences
1.3.11 The significance of the near-death experience
A psychological explanation for near-death experiences
1.4.1 Choices in dying
1.4.2 Concepts of a good death
1.4.3 Assessing the quality of dying
1.4.4 Case study 1: Vic Harris – a hospital death
1.4.5 Case study 2: Li’s death – a residential home death
1.4.6 Case study 3: Andrew’s death – a hospice death
1.4.7 Case study 4: The death of Meg – a home death
1.4.8 Comment on case studies
1.4.9 Professional help
1.4.10 Unfinished business
A good death?
1.4.12 Bad deaths
1.4.13 Defining a ‘good death’
Next steps
References
Acknowledgements

 

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