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Chapter Fifteen: A Death in the Program

DOI:

10.1891/9780826128836.0015

Abstract

This chapter offers an orderly strategy for dealing with patient deaths and discusses possible actions a clinician needs to take with other patients when a patient dies. Theoretically, in terms of managing a therapeutic milieu, the principle of order suggests that patient deaths be handled in a principled manner. Not all patient deaths must be disclosed and processed with the milieu or group. Each situation should be evaluated using the preceding questions as to the death’s clinical impact on the milieu. The clinician has an opportunity to educate the group about suicide and grief and loss. Patients with depression and anxiety may have a subtle break from reality and need some grounding about the normalcy of having various negative feelings in response to loss. Patient deaths are going to happen/they do happen in the partial hospitalization program (PHP)/intensive outpatient program (IOP) setting. They are a growth experience for all involved.