Life Planning Preparing One's Self Essay

, p. 842)

As our research shows, and as St. Leo's core values demonstrate, a great deal of Personal Development is required to face the difficult decisions that are implied by end-of-life planning. With this personal development, growth and maturation comes an appreciation for the suffering of others in the wake of one's passing. The result is a concerted effort to ease this process. And as the article by Bunting-Perry (2006) finds, "the lifting of care burden opens a window for formal grieving. Family and friends comfort the bereaved person for a short period of time after the death." (Bunting-Perry, 106)

By showing a sense of the experience of others rather than simply of one's own fear in facing death, one also demonstrates a clear understanding of the Responsible Stewardship implicated by maintaining a living will. Particularly, Furrow et al. tell, "a number of devices have been developed to facilitate efforts by competent people who wish to plan for their medical decision making should they become incompetent. These include the 'living will' or 'right to die' statement (now called an 'individual instruction' under the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act); the durable power of attorney for health care decisionmaking; and the values history." (Furrow et al., p. 842) This acknowledgement of the legal morass that can arise when one is incapacitated denotes a clear sense of responsibility and a willingness to direct others to proper responsibility even in death.

Perhaps most importantly, and thus serving as a suitable place to conclude the present discussion, the core value of Integrity is critical to the notion of planning for the end-of-life stages. Indeed, a great deal of this feature is required for one to boldly answer difficult questions which carry such troubling implications as one's own passing. As the values discussed her above demonstrate, it is incumbent upon all of us to summon this integrity to best serve ourselves and our loved ones.

Works Cited:

Bunting-Perry, L.K. (2006). Palliative Care in Parkinson's Disease: Neuroscience Nursing Implications: Bereavement Care. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 38(2), 106-113.

Furrow, B.R., Greaney, T.L., Johnson, S.H., Jost, T.S., & Schwartz, R.L. (2008). Health Law. (6th ed.). St. Paul, MN: Thomson-West Publishing

St. Leo….....