title: Communicating with patients.
abstract: The effective clinician realizes that more than accurate factual information is necessary for effective communication. The responsibility for this communication is the doctor's. Herein is an examination of some of the major areas of contention that, if acknowledged by the physician, can lead to better communication with the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA. robert.a.kagan@kp.org
authors.forename: A Robert
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kagan
authors.forename: Romaine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clifton
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations