Skip to main content

Breaking Bad News

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Palliative Care in Clinical Practice
  • 1844 Accesses

Abstract

Bad news is defined as any news that seriously and negatively alters the patient’s view of his or her future. In trying to convey the news as sensitively as possible, it is essential to help the patient and the family understand the condition, support the patient and family, and minimize the risk of overwhelming distress or prolonged denial:

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Buckman R, Kason Y. How to break bad news: a guide for health care professionals. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kaye P. Breaking bad news. Northampton: EPL Publications; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  3. National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services. Regional Guidelines on Breaking Bad News. Published by Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety, Belfast Last accessed 16 April 2012 http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/breaking_bad_news.pdf

  4. Yun YH, Kwon YC, Lee MK, et al. Experiences and attitudes of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers towards the discussion of terminal illness. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:1950–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zeppetella, G. (2012). Breaking Bad News. In: Palliative Care in Clinical Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2843-4_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2843-4_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2842-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2843-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics