[The doctor-patient relationship in intensive therapy]

The doctor-patient and doctor-patient's family relationships require skills of interpersonal communication, which is particularly important in intensive therapy. Unfortunately, such skills are not routinely taught and inadequacies are enormous. Communication skills are essential for decision-making and outcomes of therapy. The communication-related education should be obligatory and include abilities to use the linguistic and extra-linguistic signs suitable for the given circumstances. The former ought to have linguistic, psychological and social effects. The latter should involve gestures, voice modulation, facial expressions or even silence, if need be. ITU patients and their families expect physicians to behave appropriately and to provide them with competent emotional support and cooperation.