A terminally ill patient expresses a belief that God will forgive him. What stage of grief does this indicate?

The correct answer is bargaining. In the context of the stages of grief, bargaining often involves the individual seeking to make deals or compromises in the face of impending loss. This can be expressed through religious or spiritual beliefs, where the person may plead for forgiveness, comfort, or even more time to be granted to them.

When the terminally ill patient expresses confidence that God will forgive them, it reflects a desire to find peace and perhaps an attempt to negotiate with a higher power for forgiveness or understanding regarding their situation. This form of internal dialogue or negotiation is characteristic of the bargaining stage, where individuals grapple with their emotions and the reality of their circumstances, hoping to alter outcomes or find solace in their beliefs.

Other stages, such as denial, anger, or acceptance, encompass different emotional responses and behaviors that do not align with the patient's expression of seeking forgiveness, which is more indicative of bargaining.