The article discusses the challenges healthcare professionals face when delivering bad news to patients, particularly in oncology. With long waiting lists and limited resources, timely communication becomes complicated. The dilemma arises when a patient with a delayed appointment needs urgent treatment due to a cancer diagnosis. While one physician contests delivering such news over the phone as impersonal, the reality is healthcare often does not allow the luxury of in-person meetings. The author emphasizes that while delivering bad news compassionately is essential for the patient experience, systemic issues hinder this ideal scenario.
In oncology, handling the good results is easy: most patients will gladly accept the news from a nurse and wait patiently for a doctor's appointment.
When the news is bad, people reasonably expect a doctor to be at hand to answer the question, What does this mean for me?
Difficult news conveyed compassionately and sensitively does not alter the facts but does change the patient experience.
Public hospital waiting lists are long, resources thin. It would take a sophisticated miracle to coordinate the timing of results with the timing of appointments.
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