Breaking Bad News
W - Wait
This is an
important step. It is very tempting for
doctors to continue talking right after delivering the bad news. The silence and emotion is often very
uncomfortable for the doctor. However, one
way of validating patients’ emotion is to let them express it. As well, after you have delivered the news,
the patient will not hear anything else that you have said until they are ready
to move on. Before you begin speaking
again, wait for a cue that they are ready to continue. They may ask a question or make eye contact
with you again.