Contents: Preface. Part I: Background. Introduction. Related Literature In Health Communication. Related Humor Literature. Conceptual Foundations. Overview of Humor in Health Care Settings. Part II: The Nature of Funny. About Phenomenology. The Essence of Funny. Funny in Relation to Health Care. Part III: Tones, Functions, and Topics of Medical Setting Humor. The Ethnographic Approach. Torture by Hickey Machine: We're All in This Together. Discreet Humor in a Breast Care Center. Empathic Humor In a Doctor's Office. Overview and Significance of Humor in Medical Settings. Part IV: Humor and Appropriateness. The Rules of the Humor Game. Humor and the Code of Dignity. Humor and the Code of Compassion. Overview and Significance of Humor and Appropriateness. Part V: Humor Makes Sense of Problematic Situations. Ethnomethodological Approach. Candid Camera and Gestalt Psychology. Playful Management of Three Dilemmas. Laughter-Coated Complaints. Part VI: Conclusions. Summary. A Few Cautions. Limitations and Strengths. Suggestions for Application. Parting Observations. Appendices: The Relationship Between Conversational Context and Structure. Transcription Guide. Discovery Model. Philosophy Statement.