When we are seriously ill, there are some feelings and emotions that are not easy to express. However good we are at communication, it can be hard to talk about certain things. This will be different for each person, and may relate to feelings and emotions, to finances, care directions or to worries about family and friends.

Sometimes we make choices that others may not agree with which can be difficult to talk about. This could be in deciding on end-of-life decisions, or making arrangements such as wills and funerals.

Often we will avoid talking about death and dying or things that are worrying us. Sometimes it can be a relief when someone raises these sensitive topics. It may be helpful if you are the one who initiates those conversations. Others may worry that some issues will be too upsetting and they will avoid raising them with you.

The National Hospice Foundation has produced a booklet called the Consumers Guide to Communicating End of Life Wishes that has some helpful ideas on how to start conversations with your family.  

Patients have a lot of information collected and recorded about them, and they are often cared for by many different health professionals. It can be difficult for all these people to know who they can talk to about you. You need to let your healthcare providers know who they can and can't share information with.

In some cultures, a patient may have a family member act as their representative and it is not appropriate that the patient is spoken to directly.  You will need to let your health care team know if you want someone to act on your behalf.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has information on My health, my privacy, my choice.

This page was created on 26 March 2007 and is due for review in March 2009