A man devoted to his wife, his second marriage and an acrimonious relationships with her kids. She was dying and he clearly could not accept it. The GP came. The husband still clinging desperately to a fictitious future. I said clearly to him that there was nothing more to be done medically for her. The GP was very cross and disapproving and said I should not have taken away his hope, but he was not gaining from the denial. Over a few more days he began to talk about their relationship and life together despite the overt dislike he was regarded with by her children. He began to accept she died. He sat looking at her body. He was not invited to the funeral.
