Dr Viet Anh, a 31-year-old doctor, sat across from a 39-year-old man with lung cancer that had stopped responding to treatment. The patient and his family clung to hope for recovery, despite the results of the examination showing that he was in the final stages. Doctor Viet Anh had a difficult decision to make – tell the truth that the patient was going to die or continue with an ineffective treatment.
In another room, Dr Viet Anh informed the patient’s wife about her husband’s condition and the need for palliative care. The task of communicating bad news is something that medical professionals around the world struggle with. Telling someone they are dying is one of the most challenging things a doctor can do, with emotional and psychological implications for both the patient and their family.
Dr Nguyen Thi Huong, deputy director of the Center for Palliative Care, also faced similar challenges when dealing with young cancer patients who had a strong will to live. The delicate balance of providing realistic expectations while maintaining patient dignity and hope for the future is key in medical practice.
As advances in medical technology offer hope for many cancer patients in Vietnam, doctors like Viet Anh are learning how to navigate these delicate situations with empathy and sincerity. While there is no easy way to communicate bad news, doctors must find gentle and effective ways to deliver this news to their patients in their final stages.
