title: [Breaking bad news].
abstract: Breaking bad news is a difficult task of the physician. With three short records of cancer patients frequent difficulties and errors in the disclosure of diagnosis and prognosis are highlighted. In addition to its medical definition "cancer" has also a metaphoric meaning, which may substantially compromise the communication between patient and physician. Therefore the term cancer has to be explicitly used in talking to the patient and its current meaning for the patient has to be clarified. In estimating the prognosis with the patient precaution is essential since wrong predictions may geopardize the confidence of the patient in this physician substantially and even compromise further treatment. Breaking bad news is not a one way communication. Patient reactions have to be acknowledged, understood and catched up in a supportive way.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrische Klinik, Bürgerspital, St. Gallen. christopher.huerny@buergerspital.ch
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Hürny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003142:Communication; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019365:Metaphor; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D035502:Trust; D014342:Truth Disclosure