Written Assignment 2 Question 1 There are many bad ways to break bad news in physician-patient communication, for example, over the phone, during the patients happy time, celebration, or without compassion. The physician should consider preparing for discussion, choosing a private place (as some people will have a problem in showing emotions around the others) and have enough time for questions and concerns. It is also very important to show to the patient that the physician is here to support him. Question 2 The major functions of a death system are: Warning and predicting death this function implies various structures within society aimed to warn people about dangers. Caring for the dying this function is also very important, as it serves an example of positive cultural change. Disposing of the dead this function involves all practices relating to the removal of a dead body, methods of disposal and associated rituals.
Social consolidation after death this function implies the idea that when a person dies, the members of society face the need to consolidate after death. Making sense of death this function is also very important as every society and culture needs to develop ways to make sense of loss and to understand the loss. One of the most important thing about this function is that funeral rituals allow to interpret death with a specific philosophical viewpoint or a given faith..
