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One of the basic tenets in clinical practice is, “Physician heal thyself.” In the course of healing oneself is the premise that one should know oneself. Thus, knowing myself, and my life-long responses to loss and separation (despite a lengthy and thorough classic personal analysis), I have deliberately avoided any and all direct work with the dying patient, be it in my clinical practice, or in supervision, consultation, and teaching activities. I have kept abreast with the vast body of literature devoted to mourning, stress and burnout in the workplace that serves severely ill and dying patients, particularly those afflicted with the plagues of contemporary times, namely, AIDS and cancer. My readings and study have only reinforced my disinclination to work with the fatally ill client, and have only increased my professional respect and admiration for those who can work with dying patients.
Writing and research suggest that patients and clinicians in AIDS and cancer programs have, at the least, a cognitive awareness of the life-threatening illness. Further noted in studies is the finding that while cancer striken AIDS and HIV patients struggle with their