Essay Example on Death and Dying: Our Cultural Responses

PART ONE

Culturally, the death and dying process are sad situations that affect the familial bonds in communities. However, deaths are prevalent in our society, and they are natural. Cultures have different ways of coping with death. Most times, the loved ones and caregivers are confused, especially when the patient is about to die (Nwosu, Njemanze, Ekpechu & Popoola, 2017). The confusion may arise due to misunderstandings about cultural practices to be addressed about the death. The essay addresses the cultural and social concerns of a 77-year-old who has terminal cancer. It also illustrates the guidance necessary to help the patient cope with the situation.

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How I Would Wish My Chapter to Look Like

I would wish to have a conducive time that keeps me free from opinions for my cancer treatment. I may want to stop receiving any life-sustaining measures. Most importantly, my wishes in the last few months of my life are to always keep things in a better way, especially by looking at the facts from a broad perspective. Being the final stage of my life, I would wish to get some things off my chest. Talk to my friends about things I never got proud of in my life. I would also wish to apologize to my friends for the wrong I have ever done that never pleased them. Most importantly, I would wish to advise and give instructions to my family members about how my burial shall be conducted.

Cultural Heritage and Impact of Cultural Traditions to My Last Wishes

I am a Nigerian. We perceive death as a bad omen that is associated with witchcraft and gods' spirits. My culture classifies the death as a period of grief mourning. Being a Nigerian, my family and I will significantly impact my dying process and last wishes because of our cultural traditions. For example, people will relate my dying process with humans and gods (Nwosu, 2017). Little will they understand that I am suffering from cancer disease? As a result, there will rise conflicts between my family and ancestors. Ancestors will hold a belief that I am bewitched, or atrocities are killing me.My family members will confirm to them that I am undergoing severe suffering out of cancer infections. Also, my last wishes may, in one way, agree or disagree with my friends and family members. Some will feel dissatisfied with my preferences. As a result, they will cause conflicts that are likely to annoy the gods. Therefore, my gods will not receive and invite me to join their ancestors.

How My Community View Death

My community view death as a bad omen. In other words, to them, death is associated with witchcraft and killings by gods. Our cultural beliefs hold that nobody dies out of diseases. It believes that people who die must have been witched by humans or killed by gods (Nwosu, 2017). In my community, death is taken with a lot of concern. It is marked with a long period of grief and mourning. Deaths caused by drowning, thunder, and suicides are considered as unfortunate deaths (Brega, Freedman & West, 2016). In my community, the young are not expected to die. They believe that one should die at the age of 90 years. Communication with loved ones greatly influences the death and dying process of an individual.

Impact of Communication to Death and Dying Process

On the other hand, communication with our loved ones may either positively or negatively impact the death and the dying process of a person. A positive impact demands for a conversation that is handled by both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team (Nwosu, 2017). A message that does not give loved one's hopes is likely to demoralize the family members. As a result, some may die out of fear and tensions.

PART TWO

Impact of My Views on the Death and Dying Process of the Patient

I would jointly handle the patient by managing her life-limiting situation. I would ensure the patient emotions and spiritual concerns are well addressed, and they don't further affect his current health situation. My great interest is to communicate good care plans to the patient's family members. In other words, I will be close to his family members and effectively communicate information that brings hope to both the patient and his loved ones. I will convey the message sensitively and transparently without any ambiguity. More so, I would support the patient to wipe his tears as a way of showing concern. By so doing, I will satisfy the emotions of the patient and help him learn that she is not alone despite his health challenges.

How I Seek To Guide the Patient and Loved Ones

I would guide the patient in many ways. Among the major ways is by telling the patient to accept the fact that his family members are aware of his health problems. She should ignore her culture and disclose her secrets to her children. More so, I would advise her to stop becoming uncomfortable with any talk with her caregivers. She should accept her condition and act positively to all people. More so, she should discuss with her family members and caregivers about her wishes and final arrangements of her death. The above approach will make her comfortable, and she is likely to increase her life span.

Cultural Context to Be Considered

The cultural context to consider here is the ethnic customs and beliefs of the community. I would speak to the patient about the impact of her cultural ideas on her health. Also, I would go the extra mile to study a patient's religious beliefs and ethnic customs that adversely affect her health. By learning her culture, I will understand what I should speak to her.

Conclusion

In Nigeria, little is known about the central cultural beliefs concerning mourning and death. The culture holds that people who die are bewitched or killed by gods. On the other hand, it is vital to learn the basic ways of handling the patient. These ways include learning the cultural beliefs of the patient and guides the patient where possible. If the culture does not favor the health of the patient, it is advisable to intervene for the health purposes of the patient.

References

Brega, A. G., Freedman, M. A., & West, D. R. (2016). Using the health literacy universal precautions toolkit to improve the quality of patient materials. Journal of health communication, 20(sup2), 69-76.Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10810730.2015.1081997

Nwosu, A., Njemanze, V., Ekpechu, J., & Popoola, B. (2017). Socio-Cultural Context of Death and Mourning Practices in Rural Igbo Communities of Nigeria. Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume, 22, 47-57.Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319482641_Socio-Cultural_Context_of_Death_and_Mourning_Practices_in_Rural_Igbo_Communities_of_Nigeria