1. Spiritual and ethical aspects of advance care planning
- Author
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Mark G. Thomas and Max Watson
- Subjects
Advance care planning ,Nursing ,Psychology - Abstract
This chapter describes linking spirituality and Advanced Care Planning (ACP); fear and ACP; how thinking about death changes people; religious views of ACP; denial and ACP; personal control and ACP; ethical principles and ACP; the spiritual work of ACP, including objective asessment; adaptation and ACP; and ritual, sacrament, and ACP. The discussion holds that dying is not primarily a medical event. The process of thinking about end-of-life issues can significantly impact on an individual’s attitudes, values, and belief systems. Dying patients can challenge the cultural illusion that life is going to last forever. This can be hard for families and professionals to accept and challenges their own fears around mortality. The importance and wisdom of religious rituals and religious symbolism cannot be ignored even in the most secular of contexts as they bring comfort to many. ACP is about life before death and can foster resilience and hope.
- Published
- 2018
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