Informing critical care patients of a loved one's death.

Grieving Patients and Families Statistics on how often critical care patients must be informed of the death of a loved one are not generally tracked. However, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, a level I trauma center, the Trauma Registry does track the number of patients with trauma due to motor vehicle accidents (ranging from minor injuries to critical injuries) in which a fatality has occurred in the same vehicle. The other person or persons who died may or may not be a relative of the surviving patient; nonetheless, the patient must be informed of the death. In a 24-month period, from October 1, 2004, to September 20, 2006, the Trauma Registry recorded 55 trauma patients who survived an accident in which a fatality occurred in the same vehicle. These fatalities are often relatives or friends of the The Rev. Lisa A. P. Watson, MDiv, BCC Informing Critical Care Patients of a Loved One’s Death Spiritual Care