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Informing someone of a loved one’s death is a daunting task, and proper delivery of this news is critical. While most experience this conversation only a few times in their life, doctors can face it frequently. Despite research on best practices—such as using clear language and avoiding euphemisms—medical training offers little guidance on conducting these conversations, particularly over the phone or in different relational contexts.
Medical education prioritizes technical expertise, often overlooking bedside manner. Jaideep Talwalkar, associate dean at Yale Medical School, aims to close this gap by integrating interpersonal medical simulations into the medical curriculum. “Just as a surgeon needs to know the steps for their surgery, doctors should go into complicated conversations having thought about the steps involved,” Talwalkar said.
In 2019, Yale introduced a fourth-year advanced communication workshop, including a module for simulated telephone death notifications. Among eighty-eight medical students who completed the training, many described it as emotionally challenging yet valuable, emphasizing the need for preparation in delivering death notifications.
Before the simulation, students participated in a course covering care goals, death pronouncement, and family notification. They then informed a “parent”—played by a professional actor—of their seventeen-year-old child’s death in a car crash. Afterward, students debriefed with peers and faculty, providing time and space to talk about how the experience felt.
Fostering open conversations in both medical education and throughout a medical career is necessary to safeguard a physician’s mental health. If clinical skills are to be meticulously practiced by future doctors, communication in high-stakes situations should be deliberately incorporated into medical curricula. Broadening this training will equip doctors with the tools to handle these difficult conversations with sensitivity and professionalism, ultimately improving patient care and supporting the health and wellbeing of all involved.