Takeaway
New medical information can be hard for patients to process, especially if it is bad news. Taking time to assess the impact of newly delivered information is an important step in clinical conversations.
Connecting with Patients | June 11, 2025 | 1 min read
By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine
Last time he was in the office, a patient shared an example of how the most well intended things we say to patients can sometimes backfire. He was recently given unfortunate news by his oncologist—the latest scans showed his cancer had spread into his liver. The doctor reviewed the studies and quickly outlined some treatment options. When he finished his explanation, the doctor politely asked, What questions do you have? The patient had none, and the visit concluded with plans for follow up in two weeks.
The patient told me that at the time, he was too stunned to think of any questions for the oncologist. How can I have questions if I haven’t even processed what is going on with me? he said. We then spent some time talking about his diagnosis, how it felt to him, and how to begin thinking about the next steps.
When delivering information to patients—especially bad news—it’s important to assess impact before moving on to questions. I just shared some rough news. How are you feeling about this? or How is this news landing for you? may be helpful segues. This helps patients process new information, while helping build a trusting connection.
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This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.