Untaming grief ? For palliative care physicians

Little doubt (if any) remains as to the assured importance of physicians possessing praxis regarding psychosocial issues, including grief dynamics, in order to tend to dying and sorrowing people. It stands to reason then that palliative care physicians become knowledgeable enough about the phenomenon of grief. But imperative nuances must also be considered: what sort of knowledge on grief, as well as how much of such knowledge, is enough? This article poses topical queries on the importance of the palliative care physician exercising a deliberate agenda to persistently refine one's personal framework or beliefs regarding grief. In doing so, it is proposed physicians will engender improved self-knowledge, which will serve to better poise themselves toward being with and purposefully encountering aggrieved others.