Doctors Letter Of Condolence Template printable pdf download

A Doctor’s Letter of Condolence

Such a letter used to be a standard part of a physician’s role in caring for grieving

family members after the death of a patient. If you don’t already, consider

starting to write such letters when a patient you care for dies.

Arguments for Writing a Letter of Condolence

Help family, friends, and physician with grieving process

Help family members manage the anger that may come from an

unexpected or complicated death

Help physician’s own sense of failure or loss

The absence of a letter may arouse a family’s disappointment or suspicion

Excuses Given for Not Writing a Letter of Condolence

Too busy

Unable to obtain contact information for family

Physician feels that he/she did not know patient well enough to write a

genuine letter

As part of a clinical team, it may not be clear which physician/care

provider should write the letter

Forces physician to deal with sense of failure

Letters of condolence and other ways to help grieving family members are

receive little attention in medical training

Suggestions for Writing a Letter of Condolence

Avoid superficial statements such as, “I know how you feel.”

To avoid legal issues, focus on the sadness of the death and not on the

clinical details

Begin the letter with a direct expression of sorrow about the death such

as, “I am writing to send you my condolences on the death of your

husband.”

Try to include a personal memory of the patient and something about the

family

Consider including comments about the patient’s courage during the

illness and the comfort that the patient received from the family’s love

Conclude with a few words of support to let the family know that your

thoughts are with them

Reference:

Bedell SE, Cadenhead K, Graboys TB. The doctor’s letter of condolence. NEJM.

2001; 344:1162-4.

Kane GC. A dying art? The doctor’s letter of condolence. Chest.

2007;131:1245-7.

Doctors Letter Of Condolence Template