Communication in medicine is considered to be a fundamental clinical skill for successful diagnosis and treatment, and for establishing a relationship with the patient. Studies clearly show that the communication and relationship between doctors and patients are crucial and have a number of effects on treatment outcomes, as well as on the overall satisfaction of treatment, adherence, clinical outcomes and quality of life, safety of patients, team work, cultural sensitivity, and leads to a reduced number of complaints about the medical practitioners. One of the most sensitive areas of medicine, in terms of the importance of good communication, is the approach towards those suffering from a terminal illness and their families. In palliative care, specific communication challenges include the bearing of bad news, identifying emotional reactions of patients, the inclusion of families in the communication, discussion about prognosis and risks, transition to palliative care and communication at the end of life. All members of the multi-professional palliative team need quality education dedicated to communication skills.

Key words:
communication, bad news communication, emotional reactions, end-of-life communication, family meeting, prognosis