Doctors sometimes don’t inform patients of bad news. Why?
Doctors and patients bond over time. Information exchange, education and sharing of expertise are critical activities that add to the effective practice of medicine.
Delivering bad news is, unfortunately, an unpleasant part of a physician’s job. Honesty, empathy, and clear communication are essential to delivering news to patients and their families — even when the news is unpleasant or unexpected. While communication is an integral part of the practice of medicine, …