Monday, April 25, 2011

my initial thoughts on the care of the dead (46)


Death is the end of a cycle. A large cycle that involves various species of animals, plants and the complex, interdependent communities they form. The cycle of life. It depends on the maintenance of a number of delicate balances within and between a series of complex physical, chemical, biological processes, and in case of humans, social too.

Death is when a person ‘ends’ - on our reality, i wont get into the post-death topic. It determines, for the people around, the last breath, the last talk, the last warm and therefore conscient touch. It could mean the last chance to ask any questions, a chance to get redemption, to tell a truth that has never been mentioned. A chance to get closure, to make peace. 


But saying that it is a moment when a person "ends" doesn't mean that from now on he/she simply doesn't exist anymore. It is by far more profound than that. After all, the people who just lost a loved one are still around. For them, it is a time filled with great emotions all at once. Emotions that can feel stronger and deeper than ever. From getting scared, worried, angry or sad, to feeling in shock, unprepared, confused or guilty. You could experience denial, exhaustion, relief... All of which could lead to trouble with eating, sleeping and concentrating, and consequently with studying. Which could lead to drinking or eating disorders and maybe even nausea as a reaction to grief.

The intensity of grief may be related to how close the person was to the one that was lost, and to how sudden or predictable the loss was. There are many steps of grieving, its process takes time and happens gradually. Different people take things differently, some religious people f
eel confused, indignated and doubtful in relation to faith, others feel even stronger on that matter. 

Some people can hold back their own grief or avoid talking about the person who died, maybe even to make it easier to others. Death involves profoundly the family as a hole, differently from birth, which only affects directly both parents. It is a time for profound reflection.

Death also means, for the dying person, closure too (of course!). I find it extremely important to give comfort and transmit only ‘good energy’ in someone's final moments. Encouraging him/her to do what’s best (for him/her), not feeling attached to this world.

It is also a time for that person to make a listing of properties, choosing what will happen with all that will be left of him/her on this physical world, what will be done with his/her body, and maybe with the organs, too. This will all be left for the heirs to take care, after his/her death:

First, the funeral itself, choosing what will be done with the body or, if the death was predictable, following that person's decisions. Family/social reunions, such as masses or others. Inheritances or debts (money), which could mean a lot of trouble and a good deal of time. The body, organs, or maybe even cells can be donated, for further human use or scientific research.

But what is the proportion of people who DO donate organs or cells for the benefit of others? What are the options (donating organs or cells or blood)? How will cells be used?

How do people usually die, nowadays (isolated from the family)? Is there a considerable amount of people dying completely left alone in hospitals? Are people's choices respected (in matter of how to die, not after death care)? And on the streets.. what is done to the bodies of the homeless?

There is a great discussion nowadays about the euthanasia (at least in Brasil). I would like to know more about both sides of the discussion. Doctors today prolongue lifetime with the use of medications even in those cases. People don't let others die with the excuse of "preserving" life, even though there is just no more life, but maybe suffering. It is so contradictory!

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