Breaking bad news: Can we do it better?

Breaking bad news is a difficult task for all physicians and an important part of the patient doctor relationship; yet medical education offers little formal preparation for a daunting task. Due to deficiencies in training, physician discomfort can lead to internal conflicts for health care providers and disengage them from patients emotionally. Poor communication significantly impact patient and family perspective on illness, resulting in increased stress and anxiety, poor adjustment, high rates of post-traumatic stress, and poorer health outcomes. More training is required, beginning at the medical student and resident level, to skillfully navigate difficult conversations. This educational intervention would have a meaningful impact on patient care, physician satisfaction, and long-term health consequences for loved ones and surrogate decision makers.