Grief, Death, and Difficult Conversations

Catalog description

It is inevitable that every physician will at some point be faced with the task of a difficult patient situation—a medical error, an unexpected code, negative test results, or goals of care. Medical trainees are educated on the flow of a medical interview, to glean sensitive information in an empathetic way, and steps of countless procedures; yet there is often significantly less if any formal training on this side of medical care. With lack of proper training, breaking bad news may have negative ramifications for patients and providers alike. Furthermore, negative outcomes can create a continued emotional and psychological burden for healthcare providers who may have limited time to grieve and process their experience with the loss or situation as they feel they need to maintain objectivity or keep up with other clinical demands.