Het slechtnieuwsgesprek: 10 tips

• A bad-news conversation often evokes strong emotions in a patient and those close to her or him.
• These emotions may inhibit mental processing of additional information.
• During a bad-news conversation, you should therefore not only provide information, but also help your patient to cope with these emotions and provide support.
• All this is necessary if your patient is to come to well-considered decisions in consultation with you.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.