Introduction 19
Name Brief Description
Ronald Suburban Connecticut radiologist with AIDS
Roxanne Gastroenterologist with abdominal cancer
Sally Internist with cancer who brought her laptop to the ICU
Scott Internist with an infected foot
Simon Radiologist who refused to be audiotaped
Steven Suburban endocrinologist with HIV
Stuart Retired internist with HIV; now teaching
Suzanne Psychiatrist with bipolar disorder
Tim Dermatologist with leukemia
Tina HIV-positive pulmonologist
Tom Physician whose lover died of AIDS
Walter Politically active internist with lymphoma
Wilma Elderly physician with a severe GI infection
medical colleagues and family members—many of whom were also
health care professionals.
I have organized thematically the experiences these interviewees dis-
cussed. Many of the themes they raised are closely related; for instance,
they encounter particular problems (e.g., depression) and also have trou-
ble communicating about these problems with their physicians. Clearly,
such distinctions are in some ways artificial—one can only with difficulty
separate the form from the content of poor communication, but doing so
allows for more precise analysis of each set of subtheme