Dealing with sudden death of the emergency patient.

A sudden, unexpected death or impending death is a crisis for the patient, family and emergency department staff. The emergency physician has several responsibilities. These include attempting to stabilize the patient's condition, relieving pain and discomfort, and deciding whether to initiate resuscitation for patients suffering cardiac arrest or terminal illness. The physician must also be sensitive to the psychological needs of the patient and family. It is important for emergency physicians to understand their own emotional reactions, as well as those of other emergency team members.