hello there,
I work in a hospital. There is no cleanest way (I'm not talking about literal mess but that also...).
I have noticed that people tend to die as they have lived. I work with many many (angry) young men who have attempted through road trauma. Older people use more... simple/passive measures? it breaks my heart and I don't even know them! It literally makes me want to break out of 'professional identity' and just sit and hug them. we can't obviously for legal reasons but gosh!
Same thing in palliative care interestingly enough... that's another story!
It is all gruesome and heartbreaking. the fact if you have lost someone forever. there are just too many variables to consider.
- TRIGGER -
the body changes appearances obviously depending on what has been done, and having to support family members identify loved ones is one of the most vicariously traumatising experiences... I can't begin to imagine how it would feel for the family/friend themselves. and even so regardlesss of how 'peaceful' or as little mess gets involved they still KNOW it was an act of violence. as clinical workers, we can be objective, we have the luxury; family and friends don't.
long story short, a huge amount of grief is going to be experienced regardless of method. the method can impact, yes. but it is so subjective. unless friends/family have also been through it with a person who used a different method, there's no comparative. there's no scale on which we can calculate trauma. it's subjective.
peaceful thoughts
a.