We searched Medline from January 2000 to March 2002 in the English language by using the terms “palliative care” and “terminal care.” The search yielded 253 references, but only a limited number of articles were directly related to the care of dying patients. Recent books, review articles in specialist journals, and abstracts from conferences have also contributed to this review. The review is also based on personal experience gained by JE as a consultant in palliative medicine based in a hospice and a university teaching hospital over eight years and by CW as a consultant cardiologist over 23 years, including more than 10 years in charge of a heart failure clinic in a large tertiary centre.