whether to tell him the truth. We followed his designed to allow individuals to choose the wife's wishes, but also complied with his moth- own way to spend their last days by providing ers wish that he not learn the name of his dis- them with issues to consider( 3) ease. We told him only that he was very seri- As death is inevitable in all human beings, it ously ill. The patient knew that he would die, is important to provide education in harmony and left a will for his children, wife and parents. with the state of growth and development of the He was baptized into the Christian faith in his dying person. This involves not only medical taff, but reli His mother, however, was troubled by the cists, and educators, and is an interdisciplinary E=55 truth-telling"even after death, and bereave- field. Death education can be carried out in vari ment care was difficult ous places and under various circumstances(3) Family members were with the patient at the using many teaching materials time of death in all cases except those of Patients In Japan, " death"is widely thought to be a 4 and 9(Table 4). In the case of Patient 3, the taboo topic and death education in this country visiting nurse arrived at the patient's house, by lags behind that in the USA and European coincidence, at the time the patient passed away. countries. However, it was recently reported to be in a provisional curriculum in school educa- DISCUSSION tion(4). In comparison with general death edu- Object and Person in Charge of Death Education cation, that given in home hospice care is en- ely different since the education is designed Education in general supports the growth and for persons confronted with death. The object development of kind Death education is and contents method and effects of death edu Table 4/FAMILY IN ATTENDANCE AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT DEATH Patient No. Attendant Family Attendant Staff Circumstances At Death Parents, sis Calm death in fathers arms watched by his family. Wife, pi 2 sist None Death dunng violin music which he liked, He shed tears just before his last breath, with mouth care carred out by his seven-year-old pand, son, daughte None ently nd son were drinking sake at the bedside Husband aughter Nurs Family gathered at the bedside due to a sudden change in breathing No one noticed her last breath Husband, sister-in Despite disquietude till then she became peaceful following a baptism friends at the bedside. she died calmly with her husband holding her hands N Calm death during a hymn lead by her daughter who testified that she was conscious at the time of he Wife, daughter None Several hours before his death, he called his daughter who rubbed his lighters and their None About half an hour before death his facial expression became peace- nds, granddaughter ful with a faint smile which continued until death d, son Visiting nurse was called due to husbands anxiety about a sudden change in breathing. Death was like falling asleep on, daughter, moth death watched by all family members. Daughter sisters, priest and his wife mother to grasp his hands which were held by the priest Just before his last breath, he tumed off the Tv by himself. Entering the room, his wife found that he had just gone rangr ghter, grandson None I fall asleep? "the patient asked her granddaughter. shortly after daughter he died but no one knew when she breathed her last daughter, None eath. the granddaughter, housekeeper Wife, daughter None Calm death surrounded by family and relatives son, daughter-in- None His death was attended by his B1-year-old wife. With a gentle voice e told us by phone that everything was over. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permissionReproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission