Bereavement care: seeing the body.
BACKGROUND
Generally, it is now accepted that the long-term outcomes are better for those who are able to see the body of a loved one as it helps people who are grieving to come to terms with the death.


CONCLUSIONS
While the evidence indicates that seeing the body of a loved one helps the grieving process, a recent study into bereavement reactions following neonatal deaths gives disturbing evidence to the contrary, so while it may usually be good practice to encourage viewing, this may be potentially damaging to new parents who have lost a baby.
Haas
Fiona
F
Fitzalan Medical Center, Littlehampton. fionahaas@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002102:Cadaver; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003221:Confusion; D006117:Grief; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations