What should you do when you visit a terminally ill patient?

When visiting a terminally ill person, it is always correct to act the same as if the person was not terminally ill. Be genuine. Don't ignore the "elephant in the living room", meaning, the "big thing" that nobody wants to mention. But also, don't focus solely on the person's illness-- focus on the person instead. If the patient wants to talk about the illness or the upcoming end of life, listen; don't push aside their concerns or give pat answers. Don't think "I'll upset the person"; talking about a terminal illness does not have to always be sad and emotional.