Talking with patients. Is it different when they are dying?

Talking with dying patients is different in some ways from talking with patients who do not have life-threatening illness; it can be frightening for physicians who have little experience. It is important to realize that, ultimately, the principles remain the same, and that the differences arise in the context and goals of the intervention. This article draws upon bedside experience to define several principles useful in talking with dying patients. Case examples illustrate each principle.