Obstructed Death Revisited

Abstract

Three commentaries are presented on a case conference, "Truth at the last--a case of obstructed death," which appeared in the March 1982 issue. The case involved collusion between a physician and a family member to withhold the truth from a terminally ill patient. The commentaries discuss the possible psychological need of dying patients to resolve "unfinished business," and the physician's general commitment to honesty. (KIE abstract)