[The end of life as a mental health responsibility]

Terminal phase of human life must be regarded as one of the critical life phases as well for the dying himself as for his relatives.--Psychohygienic accompanying should start not just in the latest phase but from the first knowledge of incurable illness. We must regard herewith an important ethical task that on the one hand should be taught psychotherapeutically. On the other hand must not left alone to psychotherapeutic specialists. All our health professions must be familiar with it. We see this as integrative part of a holistic schooling for communication that should run from our medical studies on through postgraduate education. We do not consider "death-accompanying" an isolated territory, however even think it contraproductive if it is treated too isolated. It would support tendencies existing in medicine and in society, to segregate incurable and old people, our endevour should be counterbalancing.