[Dying and death as a theoretical and practical problem in West Germany--attempt at a critical literature reception].

The discrepancy between the theoretical position concerning the care of dying patients already worked out in the GDR and their efficient practising causes to find further ways for a better realisation of such conceptions at the bedside. The reception of the numerous individual scientific, above all sociological and psychological results in the FRG and other highly developed capitalistic countries concerning the care for dying patients might also contribute to reduce this barrier between theory and practice in the care for dying people. At the same time the article shall provide a valuating review on certain basic positions within the great number of literature dealing with the care of dying patients, which is published in the FRG.