Grief: the constant companion of illness

This article describes the grieving process. It begins by delineating the nature of grief, noting the ways that grief may be experienced in both sudden loss and in more protracted illness and then explores the nature and process of grief, reviewing current models and research on the experience of mourning. Finally, the discussion examines the research on caregiver grief, noting that grief in health care professionals is often disenfranchised, yet the holistic treatment of individuals with disease begins with an acknowledgment that loss is a constant companion to illness, for patients, families, and health care professionals alike.