Death and Dying

In Chinese culture, patients are often not told the life-threatening aspects of a serious illness such as cancer. The family is usually told. Family members often wish to care for the person at home if possible. However, some believe that if the patient dies at home, this may have harmful effects on children in the home. In these instances, relatives may wish the patient to die in a setting other than the home, such as a hospital or hospice. The family may wish to be at the bedside of a hospitalized dying patient.

White is the color for mourning; wearing all white or all black may be considered bad luck by some Chinese.

Families may not wish to allow autopsies, and are often unwilling to donate body parts. Other death and dying practices are closely related to religious beliefs.