Natividad, Michael John F.

Hospice and Palliative Care

1. Key points in relation to death and dying

Death is the inevitable and natural consequence of living. As dying people live their lives day to day, they suffer different degrees of anxiety about death. It involves stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Hardest may be the acceptance phase. Dying and death are painful and personal experiences for those that are dying and their loved ones caring for them. It is more painful when it comes unexpectedly. Death is the absolute cessation of vital functions that should be carefully and accurately confirmed before the declaration of death. Significant others and loved ones should immediately be informed about the death of a person and they should see his/her body as soon as possible to prevent deception. Death should be confirmed only by legal health care team members and experts of the field. They should be parallel and consistent with familys knowledge and awareness. Perception of death is uniquely different to everyone. It depends on: age, environment, religious faith and a personal sense of fulfillment and/or self-worth.

2. How would you relate "Anna" to people who are dying because of disease?

Anna experienced the five stages of dying (Kubler-Ross). DENIAL: Like persons who are in the dying stage, she first experienced denial because of the fact that she stills feel alive as evidenced by being able to talk to a one who is alive and being able to breathe and ambulate. ANGER: Anna does not believe Deacon and she tries to fight him in order to escape the situation.

BARGAINING: Anna realized his boyfriends love for her and she wants to be alive again. Though, she didnt experience so much of this stage. DEPRESSION: Anna lost all hope of being alive and she is given the proofs that she is already dead. ACCEPTANCE: Anna now believes that she already has no life. She then accepts death and is ready for the burial. She also detaches with the world and her feelings about it.

Like dying persons, Anna experienced the physical symptoms of death, the gradual deterioration of life processes; although, this is induced by Deacon. Anna experienced fighting the disease. In this case, Death is regarded as the disease which Anna tries to escape. Some dying persons really cannot accept death as a normal process.

3. What is the part of the story struck you the most?

The moment when Anna accepts her death and is ready for her burial struck me the most because then she realized that she is really not dead and she could have been alive if she had been saved or she fought persistently for her freedom and believed her instincts. She is not really a dying person; shes just a victim of a psychopath. She experienced the dilemma of a dying one even she though she shouldnt. She could have continued, living a better life. She had that choice that a dying person could not have: to live without a deadline. But she did not experience that one thing that a normal dying person could have: the quality of life and a dignified death.