Vnitr Lek 2001, 47(8):544-547

[Informing the patient of the oncological diagnosis].

J Vorlícek, O Sláma, L Kalvodová: Interni hematoonkologická klinika Fakultní nemocnice Brno.

Communication with the patient on various aspects of his disease is one of the most important skills of every doctor. Despite this for some doctors informing on the diagnosis in diseases which potentially endanger the patient's life is a great problem. In everyday practice open and sensitively presented information on the diagnosis and prognosis leads to better acceptance of the disease by the patient and his family. At the same time it arouses in the patient realistic expectations and plans, promotes his feeling of autonomy and also confidence in the doctor. It creates also a framework for effective collaboration and communication between the patient, his family and health works. In our department we published repetedly so-called "ten commandments on information about oncological diagnoses". We are presenting its modfication based on the experience assembled during the past ten years.