Table 2 Models on doctor-patient relation suitable for caring for dying patients

Leget 2007

Spiritual care in palliative medicine; philosophical view

Five themes of dying well approached from an inner space:

1. autonomy and the self

2. pain control and medical intervention

3. attachment and relations

4. life balance and guilt

5. death and afterlife

Meier 2001

Palliative care

Psychological model of doctor's emotions that may affect patient care;

Description of high risk situations. Goal is self-awareness

Redinbaugh 2001

Palliative care

Viewpoint of occupational medicine

Model for health care professionals coping with grief reactions

Emanuel and Emanuel 1992

Physician-patient relation in general

Four models of physician-patient relation characterized by four variables (goal of physician-patient interaction, physician's obligations, role of patient's values, patient autonomy):

   1. paternalistic model

   2. informative model

   3. interpretive model

   4. deliberative model

Steinmetz 1992

Family physician's role in care for the dying; aimed at research and education

Three dimensions:

- care for patient and family

- self care

- cooperation with other health care professionals

Each dimension has three levels in relation to complexity and intimacy of relations.

Spreeuwenberg 1981

General practice;

care for the dying

Norms, values, beliefs of GP as well as patients; fundamental attitude of GPs to dying patients