This article describes a video-based observation research method to investigate the approach of healthcare professionals in a Dutch hospital when identifying palliative patients. We analyzed video recordings of eight multidisciplinary consultation meetings of four medical disciplines: cardiology, oncology, urology and geriatric care. The method of video-based observation suited the aim of this research. The most valuable aspects were the subtleties (e.g. non-verbal information) in interdisciplinary communication about palliative patients.