Case no 8: The patient was a 59-year-old man nothing at all to worry about or regret. "He with liver cancer who was discharged from the chose to stay at home. Six months before death, hospital. He was a company worker and had left he stated that he would sign the necessary docu a lot of unfinished work when he was taken to ments to allow an autopsy. Four months before the hospital. He thought he could not manage death he said his work in the hospital but could at home Thus, he agreed to go home from the hospital In January of this year I was told that I would live He handed over his job to a colleague, and set for only six months without hospital care but I tled his financial affairs. He was thoughtful to have survived 10 months since then. I am very satisfied that I chose home care his family members especially to his wife and spent his remaining days at home in pe e. The Twenty-three days before death, stretchin author judged that this patient accepted death. out three fingers, he said"I think I shall be all However, his attitude toward an afterlife could right for another three days. "The author judged not be determined that this patient accepted death and lived his remaining days as pla Acceptance of death Patient 9: This was a woman, 62 years of age, was very active. His belief in an afterlife could with lung cancer. She was preparing for her last not be confirmed days at home. She read a book entitled Katei de mitoru gan kanja or Terminally Ill Cancer Patients Patient 16: This boyear-old man with cancer of being Cared for at Home(Publisher: Medical the pancreas stated eight days before death that Friend Co. At the time of my first visit to her he thought he could live a little longer, but it she said: was fate after all. This patient was not given adequate information regarding his disease, yet not care even if i die tomorrow providing that he seemed to be aware of the ousness of his I can avoid the last agony condition and accepted death his own way The following is the report of a conversation The Acceptance of Death by the Family between the patient and doctor three months before her death. While looking at a hand mir- Generally it took some time for family members ror, she seemed to be happy. She said: to accept the death of the patient. This accept For only a few days, I have been taking steroids ance took place gradually during home care markably fat. If I continue like and, in most cases, the family appeared to be this, do you think I shall be all right for another relieved when the patient died. During the proc year or so, doctor? ess of death acceptance by the family there were two unusual cases, Patients 1 and 2. As your sickness is rather serious, let's make a plan for every three months to begin with. You will be In Patient 1, due to lung metastasis from an quite all right for three months from now, I think. osteosarcoma, imminent death was predicted After the first three months is over, let,'s make a However, the patient appeared well. His family, especially his mother, could not accept his con dition, At the time of my first visit, hi I told her about another patient who had similar experiences was emotional and refused to accept the infor- A conversation a month and a half before hey mation provided by my predecessor: There is death: " Is your husband all right? "He seems to no means to cure your sons disease. "We be having a hard time and I feel sorry for him." thought that the best way to convince this to show her X-rays of his chest taken et saying, "I fear that I shall not be able to stand up month. Four months later, with the four X-rays and my husband likewise. She was worried about the health of her husband and her son's in front of her, she at last began to realize that profession bu It she had lived out her life at her son was going to die. At that time, she re- gained her peace of mind and decided to care home. Acceptance of death was judged to be for her son, who was becoming weaker day by adequate but whether or not she believed in an afterlife was not known day, and so prepare for his death( 2) A male patient, 36 years of age with stomach Patient 14: This was an 80-year-old man with cancer(Patient 2), was not given accurate infor ancer of the rectum. When his doctor detected mation regarding his disease at the time of his that the cancer had spread to the liver about 13 return home from the hospital. As his condition months before his death, the patient refused worsened, the patient became anxious about not treatment and said, "I am 80 years old now. I receiving hospital care. At this time, there was a have done everything I believed right and I have dispute between his mother and his wife over Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permissionReproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission