ABSTRACT
Disclosure of information about the patient's condition is a common practice in many hospitals. This is particularly important when the person has a serious or catastrophic illness. Conveying status reports to members of the family waiting for such information is commonly depicted in the media. Such disclosure occurs in pediatrics, on coronary care units, and in trauma centers. Unfortunately, families who have relatives with catastrophic mental illnesses are often not treated with the same degree of concern and disclosure as those people who have relatives hospitalized in general hospital settings. This lack of disclosure by mental health professionals is often viewed as an insensitive disregard for the legitimate concern of families. The lack of critical information can elevate a health crisis to a catastrophic disaster.
