title: Caring for the terminally ill: expectations of patient and family.
abstract: Preparation for an "easeful" death is the responsibility of the patient, the family, and the medical staff. Two basic elements are acknowledgment and communication, which can be helped or hindered by the physician's way of informing the patient and family about the immediate future. Inadequate communication can result in a disturbing death for the patient and create ill feelings and guilt in the family members and the medical staff.
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death; D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure; D006801:Humans; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013727:Terminal Care