ABSTRACT
The visit is rarely a good moment to communicate bad news; the visits are generally more reminiscent of a small presentation, even if at first it is unclear what exactly all the fuss is about. A wide range of researchers, doctors, and psychologists have taken an interest in how to communicate bad news, and some have released initial publications on the subject. Patients hold many expectations of their doctors. Aside from professional competence, three crucial properties are openness, patience, and an ability to give encouragement. The doctor should prepare for a conversation much like a professional skier visualizes the course in his mind before a run down a mountain. Roles may conflict, for example, if the person communicating the news is the doctor, but also the life partner or a close friend of the person receiving the news. The breast cancer reentered her body and life with unimaginable force—all the doctors agree that an operation makes little sense.
