The gynecologist and the dying cancer patient.

It has been speculated that obstetricians and gynecologists may have relatively more problems in dealing with death and dying than do some other physicians. A questionnaire was sent to 3,229 Board-eligible or Board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists in rural and urban areas in the Southeast. Only 11% of those who responded had had any emphasis placed on the care of dying patients during their training. Only 6% had not seen any new cases of invasive cancer of the female genital tract in a 5-year period. Sixty-two percent hospitalized their terminally ill patients; 21% managed their terminal patients at home; and only 1% indicated that they used a hospice. Our data support the concept that, despite the increase in hospices and dying teams (available to 19% of respondents), gynecologists will continue to be asked to care for the dying. Suggestions for improving the training of residents in caring for the dying are presented.