1. Death and Bereavement  Goals  To explore attitudes around death and bereavement  To understand theories around grief, fear of death  To explore end of life options

2. Are We a Death-Denying Society?  What does death mean to you?  What’s our trouble with the concept of death?  History of death

3. What is Terror Management Theory?  We have a strong sense of self-preservation, but we know we’re not going to last forever  Promixal defenses  Supression of death thoughts  Denial of personal vulnerability  Distal defenses  Anxiety buffer through worldview

4. What Are Other Theories Related to Dying and Grief?  Kubler Ross  Denial  Anger  Bargaining  Depression  Acceptance  Disenfranchised grief  Denial of the “rights” to grieve

5. What Are Our End-Of-Life Choices?  Do our institutions, illnesses offer choices at end of life?  Hospice and palliative care  Suicide (right to die; euthanasia; assisted suicide; mercy killing; hastened death; aid in dying)  Active  Passive  Living wills, advanced directives “We spend more time planning for a 2-week vacation than we will for our last 2 weeks of life.”

6. Motivations for Seeking a Hastened Death Illness Related experiences Feeling weak, tired, uncomfortable24 (69%) Loss of function23 (66%) Pain or unacceptable side effects of pain medications14 (40%) Threats of sense of self Loss of sense of self22 (63%) Desire for control21 (60%) Long-standing beliefs in favor of hastened death 5 (14%) Fears about the future Fears about future quality of life and dying21 (60%) Negative experiences with dying17 (49%) Fear of being a burden on others 3 ( 9%)

7. Questions for YOU  Do you have a will?  Do you have life insurance?  Have you prepared advanced directives?  Are you willing to have an autopsy done on your body?  Are you willing to donate your organs for use after you die?  Do you know how you want your body disposed of (burial, cremation, donation to medical school?)  What kind of last rites do you desire (funeral, memorial services, a party?)