GIVING PATIENTS BAD-NEWS

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