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Case ref:201101161
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Date:January 2012
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Body:Lothian NHS Board - University Hospitals Division
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Sector:Health
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Outcome:Not upheld, no recommendations
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Subject:Communication, staff attitude, dignity, confidentiality
Summary
Mrs C complained that doctors were insensitive in the way that they told her husband (Mr C) that he had terminal cancer.
We acknowledged that it must have been extremely distressing for Mr C to receive the news that he had terminal cancer, particularly as this was the only hospital appointment that he attended alone. However, our medical adviser said that it was appropriate to be frank and open in such circumstances. We found no objective evidence that doctors were insensitive in the way that they communicated Mr C's prognosis to him.