Breaking bad new 1: current best advice for clinicians

Consensus guidelines and principals are reviewed for breaking bad news to patients. The setting, manner and initial meeting is discussed. The patient's understanding and emotional status should be documented. Patients should be encouraged to express their feelings and steps for nonverbal empathic communication are outlined. A review of the situation should be scheduled within 24 hours and support services and should be offered.
Reviews of the literature on how to convey bad news to patients with serious diseases have identified a paucity of empirically based information to guide clinicians in undertaking this difficult [...]