Communicating sensitive information like a diagnosis of death to patients and families requires careful preparation, empathy, and support. Key steps include assessing what the patient knows and wants to know, sharing information compassionately without unnecessary details, responding to emotions, and following up on their needs. When conveying death, it is important to inform family members together, allow time for questions, and guide them through next steps like viewing the body or arranging a funeral. Medical students should observe experienced physicians during these difficult conversations.

1. CONVEYING SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO THE PATIENT AND THE FAMILY KavyaKurkal Seth GS Medical College

2. WHAT NOT TO DO

3. 6 STEP PROTOCOL Getting started What does the patient know? How much does the patient want to know? Sharing the information Responding to patient and family feelings Planning and follow up Taken from ‘ How to Break Bad News: A Guide for Health Care Professionals’ by Robert Buckman

4. DEATH

6. WHY? For the benefit of the patient’s family and friends

7. For the benefit of the doctor

8. For the benefit of the medical student

10. Should be able to explain in simple terms

11. Should be armed with answers to all possible questions

12. Should remain calm and composed

15. Keep family updated during resuscitation

18. Do not go into the technical details

19. Give them time and space

20. It is their right to ask as many questions as they want

21. It is left to the discretion of the doctor as to how much information to divulge and to maintain a balance

24. Prepare the body

25. Families of mutilated patients should be warned

26. Viewing can done individually or in a group privately

28. Autopsy

29. Tissue and organ donationLet the family know that they can stay at the hospital for as long as they want

31. Religious preferences and ceremonies

32. Information to nursing mothers

33. Informing the child’s sibling

36. Problems of disclosure and informed consent

37. Difficult to approach a grieving family

38. Other ethical issues arise from cultural differences in treating the body of the newly dead

40. Students should be allowed to accompany the physician while disclosing sensitive information

41. Students should be encouraged to discuss the experience with the physician

42. Student must not be made to convey information to the family directly