What are the key components of the Dying Person's Bill of Rights?

The Dying Person's Bill of Rights states that a dying person has the right to be treated as a living human being, maintain hope, express feelings about approaching death, participate in care decisions, receive comfort-focused attention, not die alone, be free from pain, receive honest answers, have family help with acceptance, die in peace with dignity, retain individuality, explore spiritual experiences, and be cared for by sensitive, knowledgeable people, with bodily sanctity respected after death.

According to Box 7.6, the Dying Person's Bill of Rights outlines the following key components. The dying person has the right to be treated as a living human being until death, to keep a sense of hopefulness even as its focus changes, and to be cared for by people who can maintain that hopefulness. The person may express feelings and emotions about approaching death in his or her own way, participate in decisions about care, and expect continuing medical and nursing attention even when goals shift from cure to comfort. The rights also include not dying alone, being free from pain, having questions answered honestly, not being deceived, and receiving help and support for both the patient and family in accepting death. Additional rights are dying in peace and with dignity, retaining individuality without being judged for decisions, discussing and expanding religious or spiritual experiences, expecting the human body to be respected after death, and being cared for by caring, sensitive, knowledgeable people who try to understand needs and find satisfaction in helping the person face death.