Poor GP consultation - Breaking Bad News See more information about using this education tool on www.pennine-gp-training.co.uk in the Tools for Trainers section or read our BBN downloads from www.pennine-gp-training.co.uk/...
Notes: 1. Good initial welcoming by doctor 2. Doctor assumed patient knew the result. They should have asked the patient why they had come in, and negotiated an agenda. This would have made him realise she wasn't aware of the cancer. 3. Doctor had good posture, maintained eye contact, leaned in, appeared interested. 4. Interruptions from phone and door - interrupt the flow of the conversation, breach of privacy, disrespectful to patient. 5. Doctor could have shown a bit more empathy perhaps. 6. Doctor appeared to be passing the blame instead of taking responsibility for his error - "I thought they would have told you" 7. Doctor didn't explore the patient's ideas/concerns/etc. regarding this diagnosis 8. Doctor was not able to give a good explanation to the patient as to what would happen next. 9. Doctor should have asked if patient wished to have a support person with them when he knew he'd be giving such a life-changing diagnosis (and this was her wish). 10. When the patient began crying, he kept talking. He should have paused the conversation, taken time for the information to sink it, let her experience her emotions, and then resume when she was ready. 11. The conversation ended quite abruptly. The doctor didn't give her much time to ask questions or share her concerns, and there was no safety netting put in place (e.g. how is she feeling? How will she get home? Is it safe for her?)
Surely with modern technology a text is quicker and less stress on both parties. Plus a saving on doctors time. He could’ve been seeing a patient that was really ill.
