Comunicación de malas noticias: perspectivas desde la anestesiología

Abstract

Objective: To learn communication skills, as they can have a positive impact on both the donor and the recipient of the bad news. To know, to improve and to reinforce the techniques of transmission of bad news. The communication of bad news is an inherent practice of the medical act, although normally we do not face as anesthetists, it is one of the most difficult tasks to which we are exposed. Not being prepared for it can compromise the human and technical skills we need to do it correctly, which is fundamental in conjunction with maintaining an adequate patient medical relationship. Paternalistic medicine has ceased to be such, to give rise to new forms of models of care, with an emphasis on the opinion and participation of the patient in decision making. To transmit bad news in an inadequate way, that is to say, drastically and without empathizing with the situation that the patient lives, causes the doctor to per- form this task in a rude and erratic way. Approaching a person or a family with bad news, without a suitable plan to present the information in a structured way, is almost a guarantee that will generate more emotional pain and altera- tion of the news recipients. Conclusion: Most medical professionals have not been educated to give bad news, but almost all often face the fact. Hence the importance of being prepared for this responsibility, so we need training to do it properly and professionally. rESUMEn