Treatment decisions in end-stage bladder cancer. Bilingual liaison rounds

A bilingual conference was held in order to assist a Spanish-speaking patient and her physicians in planning for her care. The patient spoke only Spanish and her oncologists were primarily English-speaking. Her daughter, who was bilingual, did not attend the conference. One of the authors translated and served as interpreter and liaison between the patient and her other physicians. The patient was severely depressed and terminally ill with end-stage bladder cancer. Her depression and hopelessness complicated her care.