Question

When Bill first found out he had cancer and only about a year to live, his first reaction was in keeping with Kubler-Ross's first stage of dying, which is:

A) Acceptance
B) Depression
C) Bargaining
D) Denial

Answer 1

Bill's initial reaction to his cancer diagnosis, denial, is the first stage in Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's five-stage model of grief. Denial helps individuals cope with the shock of a terminal diagnosis. The model includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Bill first found out he had cancer and a prognosis of about a year to live, his initial reaction was in alignment with the first stage of dying according to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's model, which is denial. This stage is characterized by refusal to accept the reality of the situation, often coupled with thoughts such as "This can't be happening to me" or "There must be some mistake". It's a defense mechanism that helps individuals cope with overwhelming news.

Kübler-Ross's framework, detailed in her seminal 1969 book On Death and Dying, outlines five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While not everyone goes through all these stages or experiences them in this order, this model has helped us understand the common emotional responses that many people go through when facing terminal illness or a significant loss. The stages are a part of the coping mechanism that evolves throughout the dying process, which may include seeking hospice care for a comfortable and supportive end-of-life experience.