Death and Dying and the Social Work Role

Abstract

This article examines social work's expanding role in death and dying discussions with clients. In a variety of settings, particularly within health care, social workers are educating clients about advance directives as well as being involved in end-of-life medical decision making discussions. This article explores some of the issues that have been identified through research as of the part of this complicated process. The aging of our population and the continued advancement of medicine will only intensify the need for end-of-life medical decision making and increase the need for appropriate social work involvement.

Key Words:

• End-of-life medical decision making
• advance care planning
• social work's expanding role
• death and dying