Dr. Straker has been a thoughtful and humane voice in a field that few psychoanalysts choose to study; helping in the emotional currents created by death and dying. We all, I assume, have had patients who are dying or whose spouse or close relative is dying of an illness over time. This video presents us with a religious man in the prime of life, whose loves and even idealizes his wife who is dying of pancreatic cancer- a sure killer. He comes for therapy because he is so destabilized that he is in a panic and he continues because he finds his analyst so helpful throughout the next probably four to five years.

The decision on the part of psychoanalyst and patient to create this video is a significant step in the patient’s recovery from his grief. He is seen bringing his articulate, constructive and sometime less-so criticisms to an audience of oncologists.

This is a video we can all view with the recognition that immersion has led Dr. Straker to be a unique voice for good patient care and also for our profession.

Judith S. Schachter,MD