La muerte y el médico

Abstract

Drawing on the author's professional experience, this paper reflects on three aspects of the relationship between the doctor and death. First, it discusses the biological criteria used in defning death and examines the present-day debate concerning wider and more rigorous interpretations, based on the belief that life is synonymous with the maintenance of cerebral functions. Second, it considers the emotional impact suffered by the doctor on realizing that the death of the patient is imminent, together with the dificulties of assimilating and accepting failure and the loss of the patient. The paper looks at the effects of this emotional state, in which the doctor might see his own death reflected. Finally, the nature of the triangular relationship between doctor, family and the defunct is explored, as well as the dzficulties involved in providing infonnation in the most effective manner to facilitate the process of coming to tems with death in the least cruel and most dignified way possible.