Bringing Dying Out of the Hospital's Closet.

Why is the transition from "living" to "dying" not socially marked in the same way that death is marked? This question is addressed using classical anthropological theory, which highlights the significance of liminality, the transitional period during a rite of passage. Seriously ill and dying patients are subject to social vulnerabilities as they approach the end of life. Clinicians' awareness of these factors may improve their patients' care.