Handling a dying person is a process that is surrounded by a lot of anxiety and pain especially if the person is one of close relation. The last moments before the demise of a person ought to be handled with a lot of care so as to grant this person a peaceful send-off. Assisted suicide is a procedure carried out by medical practitioners; it involves giving of lethal medication to a patient suffering from terminal or an incurable condition with an aim of assisting them to die without pain.
Following the persons lead is one and the most important point that should be taken care of. As the patient’s attendant, one is always advised not to speak a lot but to do more of listening as this helps to take control of anxiety (Gifford, 2012). Listening helps to follow the cues that the person is ready to talk about. For example, when the dying person talks of wanting to go home, being tired of their condition or not being able to attend an upcoming event this statement aids to gauge the person’s emotional stability.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The second step in managing a dying person entails being clear and precise. Direct questions deserve simple and direct responses. For instance, if the patient asks the reason for the presence of close friends and family members, the response should be that it was felt that their presence would be important at this point in time (Meir et al, 2016). A patient who knows that they are dying may want to talk about it or not, their choice, however, should be respected. Questions such as ‘tell me how you are feeling’ or ‘would you like to speak to your doctor’ makes the patient to feel valued and cared for.
When death is near, the presence of close friends and family members means a lot to both the patient and the close relations. This is a tender moment requiring the balance of both the wishes of the patient and the needs of the family (Gifford, 2012).The person should be asked who they want to be allowed to visit and the number of people that should be let in at any particular time. Keeping the patient’s wishes front and center gives the dying person a sense of control even at the point of death. Before the demise, a person should be asked who they would want to get in touch with, either in person or on phone. This can be a person of religious affiliation or a spiritual caregiver.
Being in a position to deal with hard feelings and regrets is the third aspect of handling a person who is almost dying. The pasts may be filled with a lot of bitterness, pain, and anger from previous incidences and confrontations. There might have been the cause of the disagreements or it may have been instigated by the other party who is on their death bed (Forman, 2014) . Reconciling these differences is one of the best moves that are required in order to initiate a healing process (Meir et al, 2016). A statement like ‘I have been feeling sorry about something that happened between us, I know I had a part in it and I would like to apologize’ are appropriate. A description of the incident or the issue in simple terms and whatever the response such as forgiveness is appropriate. If the person is not in a position to talk, whispering it in their ear could be important. This move gives a sense of peace and clears off a sense of pain and anger after the death. Finally, an appreciation of the person’s legacy, by thanking them for their presence and letting them know of the positive impacts they made. This gives them a sense of dignity even as they depart.
Conclusion
It may never be easy to talk about death and especially that of a loved one, however, when a person consciously knows that they are faced with it, it is important to assist them so that it is peaceful. Making a person feel loved even at the very last minute and reminding him or her of the positive impact that they made in society and in your life makes them know of their lasting significance.
References
Forman, L. (2014). Assisted suicide . Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co.
Gifford, E. A. (2012). Artes Moriendi: Active euthanasia and the art of dying. UCLA L. Rev., 40, 1545.
Meier, E. A., Gallegos, J. V., Thomas, L. P. M., Depp, C. A., Irwin, S. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2016). Defining a good death (successful dying): literature review and a call for research and public dialogue. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 24(4), 261-271.
