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Alleviating the problems faced by dying persons and their families has drawn substantial public attention, but little is known about the experience of dying.

To characterize the experience of dying from the perspective of surrogate decision makers, usually close family members (89%).

Prospective cohort study.

Five teaching hospitals.

Persons who had one of nine serious medical conditions or were 80 years of age or older who died and for whom a surrogate decision maker completed an interview about the death.

Medical records were reviewed and surrogate decision makers were interviewed.

4124 of 9105 seriously ill patients died (46%); 408 …