Talen, Grampp, Tucker, and Schultz report a focus-group study in this issue that purports to discuss competent patient-communication. Rather than focusing on the patient's share of the medical interview, they elicit physicians' hopes and expectations of their patients' behavior. In a similar style, we might ask our patients to list the behaviors they would consider best from their doctors. (Such articles can be found in the magazines at the local supermarket check-out line.) Given that, doctors seem to hope that their patients will come to the meeting equipped with knowledge--of their health, of their prior diagnoses, and of their medications. Doctors hope for an organized and ...