Supportive care for families of dying children.

This article has reviewed the effects on the family system of the experience of living with a dying child. The importance of facilitating open channels of communication between the child who is dying, the mother, father, and the caregivers are discussed with examples of parents' and childrens' concerns and questions about the dying process. Finally, it is suggested that research conducted by a nurse researcher on families of children who are dying may itself be considered an intervention.