The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying (Facts on File Library of Health and Living)

401 Pages·2005·4.4 MB·English

by  Dana K. Cassell, Robert C., M.D. Salinas, Peter S. Winn

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
DEATH AND DYING
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
DEATH AND DYING
Dana K. Cassell
Robert C. Salinas, M.D., CAQ(G)
Peter A. S. Winn, M.D., CMD, CAQ(G)
The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying
Copyright © 2005 by Dana K. Cassell
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Salinas, Robert C.
The encyclopedia of death and dying / Robert C. Salinas and Peter A. S. Winn.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-8160-5376-6 (hc : alk. paper)
1. Death—Encyclopedias. 2. Thanatology—Encyclopedias. [DNLM: 1. Death—Encyclopedias—English.
2. Thanatology—Encyclopedias—English.] I. Winn, Peter A. S. II. Title.
HQ1073.S25 2005
306.9’03—dc22 2003027478
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Printed in the United States of America
VB DS 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
CONTENTS
Foreword vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction xv
Entries A–Z 1
Appendixes 279
Bibliography 335
Index 345
FOREWORD
ntertwined into the ABC’s of The Encyclopedia of often term “comfort care” and/or “palliative care.”
IDeath and Dying are several challenges to us all. However “comfort care” does not necessarily mean
First is the challenge to better understand the expe- “no care.” It can entail aggressive care that addresses
rience of death and dying. This experience is a kalei- and treats pain and a myriad of other non-pain and
doscope of many factors—the dying person’s past distressful symptoms that can lead to overwhelming
life experiences; his or her legacy (or lack thereof) suffering and discomfort. Only when we alleviate
after death; the emotional, social, religious, spiri- the dying person’s physical, emotional, social, spir-
tual, and family contexts of death and dying—all itual, and existential suffering can a peaceful death
filtered through the dying person’s beliefs and cul- truly occur, one that suffuses contentment and a
tural and ethnic diversity. Diverse communities, readiness to finally let go of life’s last threads.
societies, and countries are challenged to grapple The seminal works and writings of several pio-
with the unique issues related to death and dying. neers in end-of-life care have profoundly influenced
From a health care perspective, we are challenged many of us who have cared for the dying. These
to better alleviate suffering and increase comfort as include Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (On Death and Dying,
people travel through the last phase of their lives. 1969, and her many subsequent publications), Mag-
We need to better understand the dying person’s gie Callanan and Patricia Kelley (Final Gifts, 1992),
fear of death and loss, his questions about dying, as Sherwin Nuland (How We Die, 1993), Ira Byock
well as her desires and unfulfilled needs. We also (Dying Well, 1997), Daniel Tobin (Peaceful Dying,
need to respect people’s individual rights to dignity, 1999), and Joanne Lynn and Joan Harrold (Hand-
autonomy in making decisions, beneficence (doing book for Mortals, 1999). All these classic writings form
good), non-maleficence (do no harm), confidential- a cornerstone to better understanding of death and
ity (right to privacy), and trust throughout the last dying. The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying is another
months of their lives. This is a time to recognize and seminal work that is both thoughtful and helps ful-
facilitate the dying person and his family’s need to fill our yearning for knowledge on death and dying.
reconcile past and present personal, spiritual, and Personally this text has encouraged me to return to
moral relationships. the pioneers’ writings mentioned above, all in a
In Final Gifts, Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley search to better understand our culture of death and
have challenged family and health care profession- dying.
als to become more sensitive to the messages, teach- All dying persons and their families must be
ings, and needs of the dying and the dying person’s assured access to a philosophy of care and treatment
personal experience so that peaceful dying can be options that provide comfort, peaceful dying, and
achieved. To do so requires a philosophy of care we the dying person living each day to the fullest until
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viii The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying
he or she dies. It is my hope that this encyclopedia better care for our loved ones in this and future
will help us all to better understand the care and decades. The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying should
end-of-life issues related to death and dying in the prove to be a useful resource to both families and
past and present, which in turn will enable us all to health care professionals.
—Peter Winn, M.D., CMD, Palliative Care
Committee, University of Oklahoma Health
Science Center Faculty, Department of Family
and Preventive Medicine, Adjunct Faculty,
D. W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics,
Diplomat of the American Board of
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PREFACE
uring the past year, I have been reviewing the these deeply embedded experiences. They have
Dcontents of this unique book, The Encyclopedia of taught me that despite the marvel of modern potions
Death and Dying, and now as I am writing this pref- and technology used to control symptoms, treating
ace, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect the spirit is just as important and often central to
and share some thoughts on such an important mat- good doctoring. For when medications could not
ter. Let me begin by stating that I am not nor do I bring optimal relief of suffering, my patients have
consider myself an expert in the field of end-of-life found comfort in readings from the Holy Bible. (In
care or palliative and hospice medicine. Simply, I am addition to the medications and medical instruments
an academic-based family physician whose practice that are found in my doctor’s bag, a copy of the Holy
involves providing medical care for those people Bible remains a valuable necessity.)
who are dying. My responsibilities also include Death and dying have been succinctly depicted in
teaching medical learners about the potentials of literature, in art, and in song for hundreds of years.
doing great things for patients and their families dur- I am reminded of one particular story that has with-
ing a very challenging period in their lives. In addi- stood the test of time. In the novella The Death of
tion to my other academic duties, I write and share Ivan Ilyitch, written by Leo Tolstoy, the reader wit-
narratives about death and dying. Much of what I nesses the personal struggles and ultimate convic-
write is based on an exploration of current medical tions that Ivan Ilyitch must bare as he reaches the
theory and well-done studies that are intertwined final moment of life. Many of the themes that Tol-
with my personal experiences in providing end-of- stoy wrote about more than a hundred years ago
life care for patients. remain central to care of the dying patient today.
My patients and their families grant me a special This story reflects the humanism germane to the act
privilege when I am asked to assist with end-of-life of dying. As readers, we experience the emotional
care. When I am called to the bedside of a dying entanglements involving death that affect us all as
patient, I am inspired by the emotional exchange humans. We hurt. We fear. We grieve. We care. And
that we share as we recollect and celebrate the at times, we don’t understand until the end as we
patient’s personal meaning in life. These stories blindly seek spiritual salvation. We become intro-
abound for there have been many instances when, spective as we approach the abyss of death and an
late at night with medical bag in tow, these special apparent dark and gloomy fate. These are all com-
moments of visiting the infirm have taught me about mon characteristics of the human condition.
the virtues of living and dying. Huddling in the liv- What has changed over the past hundred years or
ing room with family members to discuss the so is the vernacular used to describe the pure essence
expected fate of their loved ones has also reminded of the life process called dying. Like Tolstoy, we have
me of my expanded participatory role as a healer attempted to describe and add meaning to one of
during my patient’s last moments of life. It is a trusted life’s most feared events. The meaning of death and
role, and I have remained humbled and grounded by dying is not distinct to one race or ethnic group but
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