Breaking Bad News

Synopsis: Shows an example of how bad news is often broken and how, despite the doctor’s good intentions, he may easily make matters much worse. The main part of the tape is concerned with interviews with two relatives who have somewhat different problems. Emphasis is placed on giving a truthful explanation that helps the relative to understand what the patient’s condition is thought to be, what treatments are available, and how the patient can be expected to respond to these treatments whilst at all times considering the relative’s needs and their ability to deal with this information. Concludes with a repeat of a doctor-relative interview and uses superimposed captions to highlight the techniques that the doctor is using during the interview. The parts of the doctor and the relatives are role-played.*
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Year of production: 1983
Subjects: Medical sciences
Keywords: communication skills; counselling; doctors; terminal illness

Producer

Terry O’Dowd

Cast

David P Goldberg

Name: University of Manchester, School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences
Contact: Nick Jordan (Producer)
Email: nick.jordan@manchester.ac.uk
Web: http://www.people.man.ac.uk/~mdphwnj/videos.htm External site opens in new window
Phone: +44 (0)161 276 6682
Fax: +44 (0)161 273 2135
Address: Nick Jordan, Video Producer
Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Research Group
Research School of Community Based Medicine
University of Manchester
Manchester
M23 9LT

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