We all hope and pray that our loved ones will die in peace, and without pain. Fortunately, our culture has finally evolved to the point where there is a great deal of information and support available to those who are entering life's final passage. Many of the links listed below are also very helpful for the loved ones trying to assist the patient in there final days, or trying to cope with the loss of someone they love. The links are divided into 3 categories: 1) pain management 2) legal considerations, 3) grief and loss.
I must admit that this has not been a central part of my practice of Pain Medicine, any comments or suggestions are more than welcome.

Health World Online
Covers the 4 stages of bereavement.
About.com - Death and Dying
Also very comprehensive and easy to navigate.
Griefnet.org
Covers all the aspects of grief, including specific losses.
Crisis, Grief and Healing-- Tom Golden
A place to learn how to honor your grief.
Grief Recovery Online
Excellent, if you can stand the music.
Death-Dying.com
Support and information for those who have lost a loved one.
GRIEF & LOSS RESOURCE CENTRE
Comprehensive!
GriefHealing.com
A touching, warm, and informative site.
Bruderhof Grief Companion
Has downloadable books and many links

Before I Die
An award winning PBS series
Partnership for Caring
Has a crisis hotline and state by state forms for
Medical Powers of  Attorney and Living Wills
Growth House
An incredibly thorough and user friendly site.
AARP  At the End of Life
How to plan for your death, communicate your wishes to your loved ones and let your doctors know how far to go.
Texas Senior Law
Free Estate Planning Forms specific to Texas
Find Legal Forms
Living Will forms state by state
The People's Lawyer
Covers all of the legal issues in Texas

Onco-Link from U. of Penn
From one of the authorities on cancer pain. The list at the bottom of the page
Covers the most important basic tenants of cancer pain management.
Last Acts
"Dedicated to improving care and caring at the end of life"
From the site Neuromuscular
Technical but loads of information.
Compassion in Dying
An intense group that advocates aid-in-dying.
About.com -  Pain Management in Dying
Excellent list of resources, as always.
Aggressive pharmacologic treatment of pain Technical, but very thorough, review of all the types of medicines used to treat severe pain.
Cancer Links.com
Great collection of pain links
Pain Management From the Other Side of the Mountain
A touching and informative story about a doctor and his dying experience, written by his wife.
National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain
Information and advocacy group.
An Approach to Pain Management in Palliative Care
From Australia. Excellent.

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