Witnessing death in a healthcare setting is a common aspect since some patients may have terminal illnesses that require care in a healthcare facility during their last days. One of these diseases is various types of cancer that cannot be cured and patients spent their last days at a hospital facility as cancer complications worsen during the final stages (Grand Canyon University, 2020).
While working on cancer oncology patients, I often witness death since cancer is one of the leading causes of death across the world. Witnessing these incidences of death has shaped my view of death. During these moments, individuals are emotionally broken and no matter what help or assistance a healthcare professional provides to the patient, some of these scenarios cannot be changed (Grand Canyon University, 2020). This shows that there is a supreme being in control of life and death and He alone determines the destiny of patients.
This is because some patients with terminally diseases have survived against all odds. Although it may seem unimportant, encouraging them gives them hope and peace during their final moment (Mirkes, 2017). This also helps to psychologically prepare the patients for this transition of life.
Death is something that cannot be explained by any human being as the responsibility of healthcare professionals ends at this point. It has a big impact on the relatives of the patient, the attending health professionals, and the community at large (Mirkes, 2017). Fear and depression also affect those close to the patient with some blaming God for this occurrence. Although I have witnessed many incidences of death, every new incidence negatively affects me with the thoughts that I could have done more to prolong the life of the patient. However, this highlights the fact that everyone will go through this process (Roberts, 2017).
References
- Grand Canyon University. (2020). Practicing Dignity [ebook].PHI-413V: Ethical Spiritual Decision Making in Health Care. Phoenix, AZ: GCU.
- Mirkes, R. (2017). Three End-Of-Life Cases: Resolving Their Moral Dilemmas. Ethics & Medicine, 33(2), 107-120, 67. Retrieved from https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/docview/1901683914?accountid=7374
- Roberts, A. (2017). The Higher-Brain Concept of Death: A Christian Theological Appraisal. Ethics & Medicine, 33(3), 177. Retrieved from https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/docview/1953801344?accountid=7374
