99% Invisible Breaking Bad News
9 snips
May 9, 2018 
Rob Buckman, a physician and comedian, shares insights on the delicate art of delivering bad news to patients. He emphasizes the emotional toll on both doctors and patients, underlining the need for empathy and clear communication. Buckman's unique blend of comedy and medicine has transformed training programs, using actors to simulate tough conversations. He discusses the SPICES protocol for compassionate delivery and reflects on how humor can light up even the darkest medical moments, making difficult news a bit easier to bear.
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Actor Trains Students As Dying Patient
- Mark Parra spent a day playing a dying patient so med students could practice breaking bad news.
- He reacted as if it were real to make students' communication skills authentic and testable.
Bad News Is A High‑Stakes Task
- Breaking bad news is as delicate as surgery and can have serious downstream consequences.
- Poor communication can lead patients to make uninformed or harmful treatment decisions.
Doctor Who Moonlighted As A Comedian
- Rob Buckman performed a striptease routine in Cambridge's Footlights while training as a doctor.
- He balanced intense medical study by writing and performing comedy late into the night.
