Death of a support group member: a practical guide to helping other members cope

Dealing with the death of a group member can have many important therapeutic benefits for both patients and family members. The bereaved family can benefit from the opportunity to "let go" of the support group and say good-bye to friends who shared a common problem. This article offers a practical guide for helping implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) support group members cope with the death of a group member. The elements of grief work, so-called "curative" factors, and suggestions for leader protocols following death loss of a support group member are discussed.