title: Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, 1660 South Columbian Way S111, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. tonyback@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Quill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*