Abstract
This essay is on doctor-patient communication. It will specially focus on doctor-patient communication in oncological care. In this paper there are 4 models of doctor-patient communication presented, and a number of suggestions for using these different models are put forward. The paper compares a number of studies on Japanese and Dutch physicians' communication patterns with cancer patients. It concludes that between these groups of physicians similarities are more prominent than differences. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings. Finally, it presents some new developments in medical curricula, especially regarding doctor-patient communication.
