Terminal illness can cause economic stress in addition to emotional stress. A study published in 2000 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that nearly 35 percent of terminally ill patients had “substantial care needs,” including transportation, nursing care and personal care. Of that group, 28 percent reported spending more than 10 percent of their household income on medical care and 16 percent reported they or their families had to take out a loan or second mortgage,... [737 words, December 2009]