Mrs. W. was a 58-year old woman, whose husband was devoted to her, and who was ready to die. Her husband, however, was unable to let her go or to accept her death. Mrs. W. wanted to care for herself as long as possible, but she felt her family would be able to make it without her. Mrs. W was at the stage of acceptance. Sadly, her husband hadn't reached the acceptance stage and took her need for solitude as a sign of rejection. He consulted with other doctors regarding additional surgery, which Mrs. W. tried to refuse. When the day of surgery finally arrived, she was so anxious that she went into a psychotic state. When she was returned to her room, the surgery canceled, she asked Dr. Kubler-Ross to talk to her husband to help him understand she was ready to die.
On Death and Dying