This article describes the unique conditions of a doctor/patient relationship when the patient is homeless. For obvious reason, homeless people have difficulty preparing for death but effective palliative care can still be administered by clinicians. The authors present the case of Dr. E and his patient Mr. K, a homeless man dying from renal failure. Dr. E managed to forge a trusting relationship with Mr. K, who had never followed through on previous medical treatments. Because of the relationship Dr. E was able to provide some comfort level to Mr. K's final days. (Harvard Libraries)