Module 10 - Cultures Approach the End

Summary

Module 10 begins to discuss more specific parameters of culture in approaches to death. Humans desperately need to make sense of an unpredictable world, including death and the potential to predict its arrival. While it is unlikely that portents or premonitions will predict demise, we look to doctors to make accurate forecasts, though this is also murky territory and terminologies are inexact. Where one dies may be of great cultural importance and some have definite expectations about who provides care. Who makes decisions becomes important, affecting continuation of treatment and entry into end-of-life care; advance directives may clarify these issues, if people are open to them. End-of-life care such as hospice is most congruent with Euro-American ethnicities and is underutilized by other groups. People begin to find solace in cultural traditions as they near the end.