... test results reveal 'bad news' Robert was not to be told as she felt he would give up all hope of a cure. Buckman (1988) states that 'bad news' alters the patient's perception of their own future both negatively and drastically. Robert's wife also informed us that prior to his admission she had attempted to engage and discuss the possibility of the chemotherapy not working with Robert, however he had refused to even consider the prospect and was convinced he would be cured. Alexander, Fawcett, & Runciman, (2001) state that it is not unusual for relatives to ask the Consultant to withhold information. Kenworthy, Snowley, and Gilling (2002) believe that such requests from relatives are made out of compassion and love. However, Rumbold (2002) argues that it is often the relatives who feel unable to cope and have difficulty in coming to terms with impending death once the diagnosis is ...

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