Attending patient funerals: Practices and attitudes of Australian medical practitioners.
The appropriateness of attending a patient's funeral is a medical dilemma. This article focuses on 437 doctors who participated in an online survey. Seventy-one percent of general practitioners, 67% of oncologists, 67% of psychiatrists, 63% of palliative medicine specialists, 52% of surgeons, and 22% of intensive care specialists had attended patient funerals. Significant differences in demographics and between specialties were identified in terms of barriers and benefits associated with attendance. Although attendance is a personal decision, there is a need for open discussions in medical education and professional development concerning death and the role of doctors after a patient dies.
a School of Psychology , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , Australia.
Sofía C
SC
Zambrano
a School of Psychology , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , Australia.
Anna
A
Chur-Hansen
b School of Medicine , The University of Adelaide , Adelaide , Australia.|c Northern Adelaide Palliative Service , Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide , Australia.
Gregory B
GB
Crawford
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D005655:Funeral Rites; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations