The Chinese palliative patient and family in North America: a cultural perspective.

Professionals may become frustrated when caring for the Chinese palliative patient and family, as we may expect them to behave or act like us. This paper discusses two distinctive characteristics which may be unfamiliar to Western caregivers. The first pertains to the concept of family-based popular health care, where the family assumes the major role of decision-maker on behalf of the patient. The second relates to the Eastern belief of silence surrounding the discussion of dying and the impending death, versus our Western orientation, which advocates openness and honesty. By gaining a greater understanding of these cultural traditions and practices, we can deliver more culturally sensitive health care to the Chinese patient and family.