SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOANALYTIC TECHNIQUE DRAWN FROM ANALYSIS OFA DYING PATIENT

The analysis of a dying patient ir presented. The suggestion is made t hat analytic work with people who are dying is both possible and produ ctive. The unusual elements that are introduced by such cases are exam ined in terms of how they highlight problems in our theory of techniqu e. Particularly, the analyst's empathy and compassion are emphasized a s crucial: not because of how they affect the patient but because of h ow they affect the analyst and the analyst's ability to analyze.