Caring for the terminally ill: communicating with patients and family.

Abstract

Caring for terminally ill patients requires effective communication skills. It is important that medical personnel understand appropriate ways to communicate with the patient in order to inform him about his illness, throughout its duration. Physicians must develop an understanding of how patients communicate and ways to respond to that communication. Furthermore, the physician needs to communicate with the family of the terminally ill patient. Effective communication must become a regular part of the treatment.