ABSTRACT
Fear is the most basic of all reasons that people feel so helpless in the presence of death and in the care of dying patients. The immediate feeling of the social worker might logically be dread of the assignment; fear of facing someone who is dying; bewilderment and self-pity for feeling inadequate to meet the challenge, anger at the physician for referring the patient in the first place and a final resolve to get it over as quickly as possible. In this situation, the social worker's feelings and needs are all self-oriented. The social worker leaves hastily knowing as does the patient that could very well be the last time they will see each other. The therapist, whether social worker, nurse, or any health care worker needs to be prepared to be supportive by learning to listen to what the patient says, to what is implied, and to what needs are being presented at any given time.
