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The “Right” Time and Way to Die

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A Guide to Psychosocial and Spiritual Care at the End of Life

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Abstract

Americans generally believe a person has one “right” time to die, only God knows it for sure, and He ultimately controls it. They also believe that each person has the task of recognizing his or her “right” time to die when it arrives. Furthermore, they believe in a “right” way to die, encompassing four domains: the physical, the psychological, the social, and the spiritual. Health professionals who provide end-of-life care should try to implement each patient’s wishes in those domains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Henry S. Perkins

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  1. Henry S. Perkins
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Correspondence to Henry S. Perkins .

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Perkins, H.S. (2016). The “Right” Time and Way to Die. In: A Guide to Psychosocial and Spiritual Care at the End of Life. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6804-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6804-6_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6802-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6804-6

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