Coming to terms with grief and loss. Can skills for dealing with bereavement be learned?

To provide optimum patient care, physicians often need to actively work with persons who experience an acute loss or terminal illness. Physicians who are aware of and open to the issues involved in the grief process are likely to maintain healthier lives and be more available to their patients and their patients' loved ones at times of loss. However, physicians must also have a way to process the losses they themselves face. Thus, self-care is an important aspect of grieving for both physician and patients. Although the experience of loss is often painful and emotionally charged, it can provide an opportunity for growth and healing. Staying open to the process and the complex feelings involved in grieving promotes greater connection with ourselves and with our patients and their families.