The information in this guide fits most situations, but yours may be different. If the doctor or nurse tells you to do something other than what is recommended here, follow what they say. If you think that there may be an emergency, see When To Get Professional Help. Opinions about this differ depending on the family s manner of handling such matters and also on the type of death involved. Some adults do not want children seeing someone they know growing weaker or hooked to tubing.
Opinions also depend on what the child s relationship is with the person who has cancer.
If it is someone the child does not know very well, maybe it is less important for the young person to visit. Also, consider whether other helpful adults or older children can pay attention to the child and help with any questions and feelings. Along with these practical questions, people s ideas about whether children should be involved also are shaped by what they were told when they were little and someone died. Finally, your opinions about including children are shaped by how you cope with sadness and death yourself. Everyone copes differently.