The Funeral Directory - Glossary Terms

An autopsy (an examination of a body after a person has died) is performed to determine the cause of death. An autopsy may have to be performed on a body if the person died a sudden death (albeit from natural causes), if they died from a rare disease or a disease that warrants scientific research. Generally, an autopsy will take no more than two hours or so to perform and all surgical incisions are sewn up afterwards. Unless the body was not disfigured beforehand, it will still be possible to have an open casket at the funeral if desired. In all cases the doctor will HAVE TO SEEK THE FAMILY'S PERMISSION to perform the autopsy.

Bereavement

Bereavement is the state of mind and being that we all go through when we mourn the loss of a loved one and try to come to terms with our lives despite this loss.

Brain Death

Nothing functions in a brain-dead person without the help of machines.

Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation

A person will use what is commomly referred to a CPR to try and save the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest. This might include massage and/or mouth to mouth resuscitation.

Cardio-respiratory Death

When the heart or lungs stop working, it is called a cardio-respiratory death. This is the most common definition of death.

Coma

Usually, this sleep-like condition lasts only a few hours, days or weeks; rarely do they go on longer than that. It is caused by an injury to the brain stem.

Coroner's Inquest

This form of inquest is ordered as part of a court process. The aim of a coroner's inquest is to discover the facts that determined the death, if the death occurred in unexplained, violent and/or accidental circumstances. A coroner's investigation of a death will be deemed a necessity if the person died as a result of pregnancy, as a result of violence, malice or malpractice; during or shortly after a surgical procedure; from an untreated disease; as a result of the nature of the deceased's line of work or in a psychiatric institution or home for the elderly. The coroner will lay down suggestions and/or guidelines to prevent any further deaths, under those or similar circumstances, from occurring. The coroner has no legal authority to accuse someone of causing a death; neither is this his/her intention in the investigation.

Diamorphine

Another name for heroin which is a powerful pain killer.

Dyspnoea

This is what it is called when someone has difficulty with shortness of breath.

Euthanasia

This is a form of death which is assisted by another party with the permission of the deseased. The Greeks in ancient times combined the words 'eu' and 'thanatos' to mean the causation of a gentle and easy death.

Active Euthanasia This is caused by the active intervention by a doctor to cause death.

Passive Euthanasia When medical treatment is withheld to allow the patient to die sooner, it is called Passive Euthanasia.

Voluntary Euthanasia Sometimes a person requests to be assisted to die due to their incurable illness. This, however, is not legal and many are trying to change this law which they consider to be unjust.

Involuntary Euthanasia When someone ends the life of an able patient, without his/her permission, it is considered murder.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia Sometimes a dying person is unable to give permission to end his/her life and someone else does it with the best of intentions.

Doctor-assisted suicide Very close to voluntary euthanasia but the doctor merely prescribes the drug. He does not give it.

Gastrostomy

This is a procedure done through surgery where an opening is created into the stomach wall so liquid food can be introduced to the stomach.

Hydration

When an individual becomes dehydrated, hydration (possibly through an IV) adds fluids to the system.

Living Will

"The living will (also known as an ‘advance directive’) allows people to leave instructions about their possible medical treatment, in case there comes a time when they are no longer capable of making decisions or of communicating them" The Voluntary Euthanasia Society, http://www.ves.org.uk/

Mental Incapacity

An unconscious person is mentally incapacitated. Any person who is unable to communicate is also deemed such and are unable to make a medical decision having to do with their own well-being.

Morphine

Morphine is a strong pain killer used to ease the pain of patients in deep suffering. It is made from opium.

Naso-Gastric Feeding

A patient is fed by a tube going through the nose and into the stomach.

Palliative Care

Incurably ill patients are given this kind of care where their suffering is relieved and their symptoms controlled as effectively as possible.

The World Health Organization definition is: "The active, total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain, of other symptoms, and of psychological, social and spiritual problems, is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families." (WHO 1990)

Persistent Vegetative State

These patients are completely unaware of their environment. The brain stem is still alive and he/she can breathe without assistance but the part of the brain that thinks, feels and communicates is totally non-functional and beyond repair.

Public Inquiry

A public inquiry, similar to a coroner's inquest, is deemed necessary to determine the circumstances of a death - not to point any fingers and blame anyone. However, the federal government rather than the courts orders a public inquiry. The death(s) in question would have to be concerned in some way with the federal government's legal jurisdiction or with a provincial government to investigate a specific death(s) in the province.

SIDS

Refers to the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after all known and possible causes have been ruled out through autopsy, death scene investigation and review of the medical history.

Ventilator

Also called a respirator or a life-support machine, it is used to assist breathing by artificial means.

Wrongful Death

A lawsuit alleging wrongful death may be brought about if you believe that your family member's death was caused by carelessness and negligence. Any authority that employed the individual who allegedly caused the death may also be liable and a complaint should be filed against them also. Although lawsuits will bring the guilty parties to some form of justice, it will in no way fill the void left by the death. However, monetary compensation may help the family cope with the loss of a primary contributor to the budget and cover funeral and legal costs.