End of Life Care | Bereavement care | Sudden death and bereavement

Sudden death and bereavement
Session overview
Description
This session gives an overview of the bereavement issues surrounding sudden and unexpected death. It focuses in particular on the issues raised by sudden death and bereavement in emergency department settings.

This session was reviewed by Richard Kitchen and last updated in March 2020.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• identify the types of deaths that occur in emergency department settings
• recognise the issues faced by relatives attending the emergency department
• describe the arguments for and against witnessed resuscitation
• describe the role of the support nurse
• outline the process of referral to the coroner
• identify sources of bereavement support following a death in the emergency department

Death is the permanent cessation of all vital functions, the end of life, an event and a state. Dying represents the process of life coming to an end, i.e. the final act of living.

Sudden and unexpected death (or very rapid deterioration leading to death) can occur in a wide variety of settings, e.g. hospital wards, care homes, people's own homes, en route to hospital, public places, etc. In a hospital, it is frequently encountered in emergency departments [1](read details regarding the reference).

Sudden and unexpected bereavement is one of the most traumatic crisis events that can be experienced. Grief is a normal psychological process of adapting to the death of a loved one. Sudden and unexpected bereavement is so damaging and disabling because there is no opportunity to anticipate the grief. The bereaved may be left in a psychological crisis or experience severe grief reactions.