Dying and Death

Abstract

Of all of life’s crises, there can be few which equal that of dying and death. The family physician needs to be able to manage, both professionally and personally, these demanding situations. This and the two previous chapters on emergencies and attempted suicide comprise the major life crises the family physician is called upon to manage.

The cases selected for this chapter illustrate the challenge of terminal care in chronic illness, such as cancer in an adult or a child, address the ethical problem of withholding treatment in terminal illness, illustrate the need for good doctor-patient communication and understanding, deal with the problem of sudden and unexpected death, and consider the bereavement process.