The Death of the Analyst: Patients Whose Previous Analyst Died While They Were in Treatment

Abstract

A few heroic analysts have described their work in the face of life-threatening illness. However, there are only limited descriptions of these illnesses and deaths from the patient's point of view. Experiences of less heroic colleagues are almost unavailable. Clinical experience with ten patients whose previous analyst died while they were in treatment, two whose analyst died shortly after termination, and two terminally ill colleagues who sought consultation suggests that the analysts' understandable denial of the severity of their illness and the patients' collusion in this denial often affects patients negatively. Extensive difficulties commonly arose during the illness and after the analyst's death. These often involved significant boundary crossings and violations. The analytic community does not seem to handle these situations well. Recommendations are offered that might spare patients unnecessary pain and harm.