[Children as relatives of seriously ill and dying patients].

For children, the diagnosis of a serious disease of near relatives is a dramatic experience, particularly when their parents are involved. Such a situation demands great efforts to cope with. Therefore these children have an increased risk of developing mental health problems. To prevent this, children and adolescents need support according to their personal developmental stage. Above all it is necessary to give support to the parents, as their expertise as father and mother provides stability for their children. All interventions aim at one goal, which is maintaining the stability of the family. In the following, results of studies will be discussed with respect to the case report. According to the European research project "COSIP" (Children of Somatically Ill Parents) a recommendation for medical doctors of all specialities, caring for adults with severe diseases, should be lined out.