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UA prof's book helps new doctors deal with death

Scott Andrew Taras Arizona Daily Wildcat Kenneth Iserson, a professor of surgery at UA College of Medicine, works on a computer yesterday in the University Medical Center emergency room. Iserson has written a book on how to inform survivors a loved one has died.

What could be the most difficult part of a doctor's job is never taught in medical school.

Many young doctors and students have never received education on handling death with grieving family members.

To remedy this, a University of Arizona doctor has written a book about the best approach to informing survivors that a loved one has died.

Kenneth Iserson's "Grave Words: Notifying Survivors About Sudden, Unexpected Death," is written mostly for doctors, chaplains and police, but it also applies to the average person.

Iserson, a professor of surgery and director of Arizona Bioethics at the UA College of Medicine, wrote the book on a subject that is not addressed when these professionals are educated or trained. He said he thinks people believe there is no correct way to inform family and friends that a loved one has died.

"I wrote the book because there's nothing like it out there," he said. "They had nothing to help them do the teaching."

Iserson said the keys to informing someone is to be honest, show compassion and use "d" words. The words death, dead and died get the point across right away, he said.

Iserson recalls a time during his residency when he had to inform a young security guard's family that he had died in a shooting. As Iserson stepped into a roomful of 30 loved-ones, there was only one empty chair - for the doctor.

Iserson sat facing the matriarch of the family, trying to explain his revival attempt was unsuccessful. There was a moment of silence before the matriarch asked, "So, when is he coming home?"

Because Iserson didn't use a "d" word, she wasn't able to pick that out during the sudden death situation.

"You have to actually tell them," he said.

UMC Staff Chaplain Pat Andresen, who deals with death notification, said he is more sensitive to how people react to the news after reading the book, which is published by Galen Press Ltd.

Andresen points out other events could also be occurring when a loved-one dies.

"This event doesn't just happen in the ICU or the emergency room, it occurs in the process of lives," he said. "I think the book has made me more aware as to how they receive the grief."

Andresen recommends the book for people in professions that face this touchy subject.

"I think it's a must-read for everybody who's involved in sudden death notification," he said.

The book comes with a pocket-size protocol so it is easier to tote around.

Iserson said there are also teaching slides that can be used in a classroom.

He said telephone notification, relaying the news to parents or children, death in schools and disaster, can be used by all.

"It's useful for a whole lot of people," he said.