Grief Telling: Death of a Child in the Emergency Department

Abstract

Passionate emotional responses to patients in the emergency department occur daily. One of the most difficult is the death of a child. More than 40,000 children die annually and 20% of them occur within the environment of the emergency department. 1. Knapp J Mulligan-Smith D American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency MedicineDeath of a child in the emergency department. Pediatrics. 2005; 115: 1432-1437 Crossref PubMed Scopus (51) Google Scholar For some, the death of a child is a low volume, high stress encounter, but to those involved, it is devastating and impacts their world for days and even years to come. To the loved ones of the child, the way in which the tragic news is delivered can make a lasting impact and possibly be of benefit to those grieving. William Aherns, MD, has said “what transpires in the death-telling conference will be part of the permanent memory of the dead child's family and has the potential to be either profoundly healing or destructive.” 2. Ahrens W Hart R Maruyama N Pediatric death: managing the aftermath in the emergency department. J Emerg Med. 1997; 15: 601-603 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar Additionally, there is the thought that those grieving who do not have their pain or grief addressed adequately may become “secondary victims” and are at greater risk for mental disorders, alcohol abuse, and violence after the event. 3. Levetown M Breaking bad news in the emergency department when seconds count. Topics Emerg Med. 2004; 26: 35-43 Google Scholar Joyce Foresman-Capuzzi, Immediate Past President, Delaware County Chapter ENA 51, Pennsylvania, is Business Development Representative, Temple Health System Transport Team, Philadelphia, Pa, and Staff Nurse, Taylor Hospital Emergency Department, Ridley Park, Pa.