Giving patients bad news.

Abstract

Giving patients bad news involves the physician discussing the situation with the recipient and selected family members. Interview factors include knowledge of the medical facts and awareness of the patient and family dynamics. These can be altered as medical information is gained during the course of the illness, as well as a better understanding of the patient and the socio-cultural expectations. Despite the inevitability of death, no satisfactory uniform approach has been developed, because the interaction must be modulated into a sympathetic and humane interaction between medical provider and recipient.