Thanatology and Palliative Care: Perspectives on Death, Grief, and Care in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Thanatology, as an interdisciplinary field dedicated to the study of death and dying, gains unique relevance in the context of palliative care, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), where the confrontation with finitude is constant. This article aims to analyze, from a theoretical-reflective perspective, the interfaces between death, grief, and palliative care in a critical environment, highlighting the ethical, emotional, and clinical challenges that permeate this reality. The central problem lies in the difficulty of reconciling the technological advances of intensive care medicine with the humanization of care in irreversible situations, respecting the dignity of the patient and the suffering of their family. The objective is to understand how the thanatological approach can support more compassionate and person-centered practices, promoting not only the relief of physical pain but also emotional and spiritual support. The methodology adopted consists of an integrative literature review, based on national and international publications from the last ten years, encompassing the medical, psychological, and bioethical dimensions of the topic. The results point to the need for ongoing training of multidisciplinary teams in communication skills and grief management, as well as the implementation of palliative care protocols aligned with thanatological principles. It is concluded that the effective integration of thanatology and palliative care in ICUs promotes ethical decision-making, reduces futile interventions, and ensures higher quality in the dying process, benefiting patients, families, and healthcare professionals.