DNRs

Today we discussed DNRs and delivering bad news. Last Friday, we had an OSCE where we presented "bad news" to a patient regarding terminal metastatic cancer. Personally, I found the exercise useful as an exercise, but I didn't really learn anything. Nor did I learn anything new in the entire hour plus lecture. There are some things that are just not plain teachable, and giving bad news isn't something that can be scripted. It's a moment-to-moment thing, and I feel that I can handle it, and if not, I'll learn by experience. My future career in Heme/Onc is likely to be filled with giving bad news. Why is it that medical school, or schools in general, and even the public at large, require - mandate - that certain things be taught merely for the sake of appearing complete, when in fact glossing over matters, pretending that they have been "mastered" is a disservice to us as students, and to those who depend upon us - be they patients, other students, or the public at large.