How to deal with people in a hospital that comes to know about their major diseases like Cancer or AIDS in the Hospital.
Informing patients of severe medical conditions that they are suffering from can be traumatizing not only to the patient but also to the health provider. It should be done cautiously and in an honest manner. Doctors should inform the patient as soon as the illness is confirmed. However, if the patient is in a critical condition, for instance, after surgery, they should wait for the appropriate time.
The doctor who the patient knows and trusts should be the one to break the bad news. They should respect the patient’s privacy and confidentiality. The doctor should inform the patient in a private room. If the patient is bed-ridden, they should be transferred to a secret place. The doctor should sit next to the patient at an eye-level. They should first enquire what the patient thinks before proceeding to break the news in manageable chunks. Doctors should acknowledge the emotions and reactions a patient exhibits and allow them to absorb the shock. They should then give the necessary support.
Patients react differently. They portray different feelings, such as denial, anger, shock, helplessness, and guilt. If the patient does not show any emotions, the health provider should conduct an exploratory response by asking how the patient feels. He should then identify the cause, which most probably is the disease. Then acknowledge it by stating that he recognizes that the news causes shock and anguish.
The doctor should give the patient time to express themselves. Too much anger should be challenged, but a manageable amount can be controlled through constant support. If the patient has any questions, the doctor should answer them as honestly as possible. They should not shy off from admitting what they don’t know.
Since the patient may be unable to digest all the news in one day, the doctor can arrange a follow-up meeting. They should use simple language that the patient can understand and avoid using medical jargon, such as brain tumors; instead, they should use the word cancer. Enquire from the patient whether they would like support from a friend or relative when breaking the news.
Doctors should refer the patient to a support service such as counseling, a disease-specific support group, or a social worker. If the patient is a minor, the doctor should break the news to the parents or guardians. They should give hope and avoid using statements such as nothing can be done. Instead, they should use words like we will do our best to control the disease.
References
Girgis, Afaf, and Rob W. Sanson-Fisher. “Breaking bad news: consensus guidelines for medical practitioners.” Journal of Clinical Oncology 13.9 (1995): 2449-2456.
Friedrichsen, Maria J., and Peter M. Strang. “Doctors’ strategies when breaking bad news to terminally ill patients.” Journal of Palliative Medicine 6.4 (2003): 565-574.
