Breaking Bad News to Parents on Your Health

1. What to Do?

Here are a few tips on what to do when delivering bad news to parents and family:

• Do Communicate Thoughtfully

Communicate the information in a clear and timely fashion. Parents often feel they were informed of their children’s terrible news too late. Consider the phrasing of words and sentences while delivering sensitive or bad news. Doing so shows empathy and compassion, thus, allowing parents to deal with the news in a better way. Try using ‘I’ to start sentences while delivering bad news, such as:

• I have something important to talk about…
• I wish I had some other news…
• I am afraid I have…
• I fear that…

In addition, one should genuinely answer their parents’ questions and tend to their concerns.

• Do Consider Your Parents’ Emotions

Since parents can have a variety of emotions upon hearing the news, one must take their emotions and feelings into account while delivering such news. Allow parents to have some space to themselves if they want to. This lets the fact of the matter sink in and helps parents absorb it better. Cater to their rage, tears, and outbursts with gentle care.

2. What Not to Do?

Here are a few things one should not do while delivering bad news to parents:

• Do Not Beat About the Bush

Get straight to the point without beating the bush while maintaining composure. It is always better to rip off a band-aid than to pull it off slowly. People should be clear and direct while giving their parents unfortunate news about their health. It is never a good idea to tell only a part of the whole situation, thus hiding facts and information.

• Do Not Joke Around

Cracking jokes when conveying tragic news is inconsiderate and can come across as impolite. It might be challenging for specific individuals to resist since it is natural to attempt to lighten up an adverse circumstance using comedy. Yet, one should refrain from doing so, by all means, to prevent seeming callous.

Before people inform about their miserable health conditions, they should think about how they are going to deliver the news and prepare for any likely questions they may face. Parents need time to prepare themselves for the long anxiety-inducing wait for the terrible outcome of the news. 

This is particularly the case while addressing one's critical health condition to parents who are pretty senior. Any bad news regarding an ageing parent’s child can adversely affect the parent. Therefore, try using supportive and soothing phrases to console them.