Journal of Surgical Research 158, 35 (2010)doi:10.1016/j.jss.2009.05.034

COMMENTARY

Commentary on ‘‘Teaching Breaking Bad News

Using Mixed Reality Simulation’’

Submitted for publication May 4, 2009

I remember my first true experience with breaking bad news. I was onemonth removed from my surgical residency and on call for trauma. I hadnever been the attending surgeon for a serious trauma before. A youngman was involved in a motor vehicle crash and despite my best efforts;I was unable to save him. His wife was waiting to speak with me when I fin-ished. She had no idea how badly her husband had been injured, and I hadno idea how to tell her. I don’t even remember what I said, but the wholeencounter took less than 30 seconds. I’m certain that I could have handledthat situation better, but I had relatively little true experience and no train-ing in how to deal with such a situation. I suspect that the vast majority ofpracticing surgeons can relate to my initial experience.

As Bowyer and colleagues have illustrated [1], breaking bad news com-passionately is a vital part of modern medical practice, but it is not yet a fo-cus of most training curricula. This is a skill that can and should be taught.As we strive to formally develop and objectively assess core competencies,such as communication and professionalism, it is important to purposefullyconsider the most effective ways to do this. Research, such as the currentstudy, will be important as we seek to objectively define the aspects of inter-personal communication that are essential for surgeons to consistently pro-vide compassionate, effective, and safe care.

Jon C. Gould, M.D.University of WisconsinSchool of Medicine and Public Health600 Highland Avenue, K4/762Clinical Science CenterMadison WI 53593E-mail: gould@sugery.wisc.edu

REFERENCE

1. Bowyer MW, Hanson JL, Pimentel EA, et al. Teaching breaking bad news using mixed re-ality simulation. J Surg Res 2009 (in press).

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