Comments on: Giving Bad News

By: Alison

Alison — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:20:11 +0000

Can I just add one more little thing to your excellent post? Try not to give them the bad news last thing on a Friday. I was once told I had a very serious disease over the phone on a Friday afternoon. I immediately set about adding my newly revised life-expectancy to my children’s ages and generally had one of the worst weekends of my life – this was pre internet, BTW.

I didn’t have the disease at all in fact – the diagnosis was plain wrong and based on misinterpretation of a result on a screening blood test. The experience has probably turned me into a bit hypochondriac – but a very well-read one.;-)

By: Finn

Finn — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:50:48 +0000

My internist delivered the news that I almost certainly had ovarian cancer (I did) exactly the way you describe it should be done. After my surgery, my gynecologic oncologist apologized for forgetting to remind my internist that I was in the hospital; I just laughed and said she didn’t need reminding. And indeed she didn’t; she stopped by to see me a few hours later, called me at home the morning before my first chemo appointment to wish me luck, and has followed me very closely in the 4 years since.

By: AnnR

AnnR — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:01:09 +0000

In her “Breast Book” Susan Love suggests that giving the biopsy results over the phone gives the woman a chance to fall apart before the appointment so that she’s hearing the plan without being in the middle of a huge emotional response.

Hopefully the patient has met with the surgeon before the biopsy and he/she has outlined the things that might happen in the future so it’s not a totally cold call with the biopsy results.

It may well depend on the person and how they cope, but I think that’s a good way to deliver bad biopsy news.

By: Dar malas noticias « BiblioMed Virtual - Blog

Dar malas noticias « BiblioMed Virtual - Blog — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:29:57 +0000

[...] Agosto 2008 por mariagps El Dr. Rob ofrece en su blog algunos consejos sobre cómo dar malas noticias a los pacientes: It happened [...]

By: Maryanne

Maryanne — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:35:22 +0000

This is my story, I hope it’s an aberation.

After a surgical biopsy which resulted in a 3 day hospital stay, and although suspected to be cancer, I didn’t get definitive word of my diagnosis until the 2nd day. And it wasn’t by the surgeon, but rather by a resident I had never met before. He told me the bad news standing in the doorway, then turned around and left with no opening for questions. He was there maybe 10 seconds.

By: tortadeaceite

tortadeaceite — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:47:34 +0000

Thanks for your post! Every word told by a physician to a patient is a worthy chance to help, or a terrible pitfall trap for both if things are not done well. Sometimes, and unfortunately, we physicians discover it, when we become patients.
Thanks again. I´ll try to improve my skills in this matter, and i hope i remember your advices every time i open my mouth in my daily tasks.

By: Health news - Bad news

Health news - Bad news — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:54:28 +0000

[...] M.D. – Medical Weblog Dr. Rob with tips on giving bad news to patients. Rating: (No Ratings Yet) Loading [...]

By: Craig Campbell

Craig Campbell — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:43:03 +0000

Excellent post! People desperately need doctors who care.

By: Annapolitan

Annapolitan — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:30:31 +0000

Excellent post and one I wish every doctor would read and take to heart.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard someone complain to me, “The doctor told me I had cancer over the PHONE!“

By: mottsapplesauce

mottsapplesauce — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:08:20 +0000

P.S. Your blog is definitely in my top ten, too.