In the study, whose some results are presented in the paper, we located the experience of suffering into a vast system of exchanges which concern, the families of the patients of cancer, the medical and social care units who accompany the patients at the time of the disease and treatments in hospital, and, specially, at the time of accompaniment to death. The study was led in collaboration with the mobile Unit of Research and Support in Palliative Care of the Central University Hospital - CUH of Grenoble in June and July 2005. In addition to the direct observations, free conversations, participation in the meetings of medical units (transfers meetings, conciliation meetings...) the main method was the "understanding interview" carried out with 42 people: patients, members of the families, and medical units in two care units of CHU of Grenoble.
experience of suffering; palliative care; disease; death