Parents of 20 deceased leukemic children were interviewed to determine their reactions to the method of emotional management of their child's course. A common theme expressed by all parents was that they appreciated the physician's honesty; they wanted the hard facts of the child's illness and did not wish to be misled with unrealistic hopes. Most of the parents appeared to accept the reality of the disease and had no major emotional difficulties during the illness or after the child's death. Only occasional minor problems were encountered among the siblings after the child's death.
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