BREAKING BAD NEWS

DEALING WITH LOSS

BREAKING BAD NEWS

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO DO?

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

THE DIFFICULTY

THE SAVIOUR COMPLEX

PERSPECTIVE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY

DISCOMFORT WITH NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

EMPATHY: THE FOUNDATION

BEING FOCUSSED

UNDERSTANDING FROM THE ‘INSIDE’

RESPONDING WITH CARING

BREAKING BAD NEWS:MOST OF US DO IT RIGHT MOST OF

THE TIME

THINGS GO WRONG WHEN:

* WE TRY TO ESCAPE

* WE REACT IN ANGER

* WE DILUTE THE AGENDA

THINGS GO WRONG WHEN:

WE TRY TO ESCAPE:

INAPPROPRIATE DELEGATION DISTRACTION FRONTAL ATTACK INTELLECTUALIZATION MINIMIZATION EMPTY REASSURANCE

THINGS GO WRONG WHEN:

WE REACT IN ANGER:

TO DENIAL TO IDEALIZATION TO REHEARSAL OF THE STORY TO ‘UNREASONABLE’ DEMANDS TO ANGER AND BLAME

THINGS GO WRONG:WHEN WE DILUTE THE AGENDA:

BILLING

PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

REQUEST FOR POST MORTEM

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

KNOWLEDGE HOW TO TELL? HOW MUCH TO TELL? WHO TO TELL? WHEN TO TELL?

SKILL “LI ST EN”

ATTITUDE IMPORTANCE OF SELF AWARENESS

BREAKING BAD NEWS: CONCLUSIONS

1) BAD NEWS CANNOT BE CONVERTED TO GOOD NEWS

2) KNOWLEDGE OF NORMAL PSYCHOLOGY WILL HELP INFORM THE PROCESS

3) SPECIFIC SKILLS (LISTEN) CAN BE LEARNED AND APPLIED

4) SELF AWARENESS AND THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH PERSONAL STRESS IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD COMMUNICATION