This investigation sought to determine whether medical patients facing life-threatening illnesses (i.e. cancer, myocardial infarction) differed in their coping responses from medical patients facing nonlife-threatening illnesses (e.g. arthritis, dermatitis). Subjects' coping responses were measured by a Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire which was developed to measure three forms of coping: confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation. The scales were based on a 32-item questionnaire and were derived by a combination of rational and factor analytic procedures. Construct validity data gathered from patients, physicians, and significant others verified the nature of the scales. Results indicated that life-threatened patients used confrontation significantly more than did nonlife-threatened patients in dealing with their illness. Acceptance-resignation was used least of all by each of the groups. Findings appear to support those theorists who conceptualize coping behavior in dealing with life-threat as being shaped more by situational context than by personal style.