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Breaking bad news to patients: a sessional GP’s guide

27th May 2024 by NASGP

Breaking bad news to patients: a sessional GP’s guide

Dr Sabira Hughes and Dr Priyanka Saigal, Medicolegal Consultants at Medical Protection, describe situations when GP locums might be required to break bad news, why it is important to be good at breaking bad news, the consequences of getting it right or wrong, and frameworks GP locums can use to break bad news.

Breaking bad news is an essential skill for any GP. It requires clinicians to be prepared and flexible to fit the needs of the patient and the individual scenario. This can be more challenging for GP locums, who may not have any preexisting relationship with the patient or the knowledge of local pathways and support services.

When and how might you be required to ‘break bad news’ during a consultation?

Breaking bad news conversations can be life-changing and patients can often recall the exact moment of ‘the bomb’ going off. For example, the doctor saying the word ‘cancer’ to a patient, and in that instant, the patient’s life can be flooded with uncertainty, fear, panic and anxiety.

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