patient at their level. For instance, the words being used, the patient's verbal and non-verbal language.
3. Find out how much the patient wants to know. This is the most important step in any information giving discussion. As I said earlier, we cannot predict which patients want as much information as possible and those who want very little. So, it is best to find out. It is best to phrase questions in a way which does not make the patient feel silly if they don't say what they think they ought to say, and in such a way that the patient can change their mind at any time. For example:
"Are you the kind of person who likes to know exactly what is going on?" or "Do you like to know what is going on or would you like to know only some brief details?"
By asking what kind of person they are implies that people respond in many different ways to these questions. In response to these questions it is also important to tell the patient, that if they change their mind at any time and would like more information, they just need to let you know.
4. Sharing information. It is of course very important that the person who is sharing the information does have frill possession of the facts as they are known, or discloses that they have only limited knowledge about the patient at an appropriate time. Second guessing inaccurately will not help build a long term trusting relationship.
Trust is a two-way process. We expect our patients to be truthful with us so that we
Presentation for the Life Planning Centre in Tokyo, Japan, 23 February 1997,
