Family meetings can be constructed a number of ways and for a number of reasons. These meetings can be held in homes, clinics, or hospitals. Families can hold their own meetings about the care of a seriously ill family member, or sometimes, when [Page 493]a patient is determined to have a serious, life-threatening or terminal illness, a member of the health care professional team will initiate a family meeting. In the latter case, when a family member has a terminal illness, the family may also request a consultation between family members and the health care team members.