ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that our relationship with death has always been an uneasy one. The fear of death is fear of the unknown. In an atheistic society, death represents annihilation, the end of being. Ivan Illich gives an excellent summary of the history of the Dance of Death in his book Medical Nemesis. He writes that dancing with death was an occasion for 'affirming the joy of being alive and was the source of many erotic songs and poems'. The concept of a good death needs to be based on the beliefs and values of each individual patient. Caring for the dying takes its toll on the healthcare professional. Sometimes the post-mortem can give comfort to both relatives and healthcare professionals, confirming that nothing has been missed or that nothing further could have been done to prevent death. Most healthcare professionals find caring for dying children most distressing of all.
