Should doctors go to their patients' funerals? Yes, all in all. In addition to the human (and in many cases religious) value of the act of oneself, it is a form of availability extremely appreciated by the patients' families, which generally reassures them and allows them to gather information they deem valuable. This is supported by an editorial published in the "British Medical Journal". Obviously it is not a matter of professional advice in the strict sense of the term, but more of conversations and meetings of a social and human nature. Participation in the funeral could in some way contribute to the mourning by the family members. A doctor has a duty to be available. The emptiness for the family members comes after the funeral of their spouse, and it is at that moment that they will feel most grateful to the doctor if he wants to talk to them, helping them to overcome the shock and pain of the loss and putting them on the path that will lead to acceptance of mourning. Regular attendance at the funeral of the most unfortunate patients may not be suitable for all doctors, but in general, especially in the case of general practitioners, it is a civilized practice that should be rediscovered.
From: Arroll B., Falloon K. “Should doctors go to patients' funerals?”, British Medical Journal 2007; 334: 1322 doi:101136/bmj.39251.616678.47.
