Comforting a Grieving Parent

摘要

A 42-year-old woman has been my patient for 17 years. She has always been upbeat and cheerful until recently, when her 16-year-old son was killed in a car wreck. I saw her three weeks later, and she wept throughout the visit. After a six-week trial of antidepressants, she is no better. What can physicians do to comfort grieving parents?The death of a child is the most devastating loss any parent can face. If physicians can help even a little, we will have done something of lasting value. Most of the things we can do may seem small to us, but are appreciated by the parents.