The European journal of general practice
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Physicians with a serious illness face difficult decisions about revealing this sensitive information to patients. Self-disclosure of illness is a largely unexplored topic, particularly from the patient's perspective. ⋯ Physician self-disclosure of major illnesses to patients can reveal the physician's humanity, encourage empathy on the part of patients and strengthen the physician-patient relationship. This report adds to current knowledge about when to share this powerful information with patients and highlights the topic's importance in the education of future doctors.