The continuum of pre- and post-bereavement grieving

Morbid grief patterns are frequently recognized and intervention initiated only after death has taken place. However, where the eventuality of death is recognized, the relationships of the dying person should be examined rather than left to chance. Where necessary, intervention should appropriately begin prior to the event of death. The dying and the bereaved person should, to some extent, collaborate in the grieving process. A comparison is made with the perinatal period where the relationship to the foetus influences both the birth and the subsequent parent-child bonding.