RADIOLOGIST-THE NEW NEWSMAN OF THE MILLENNIUM

Abstract

Modern radiologists have a new cap to wear-The New Newsman of the Millennium- thanks to the rapid advances in this field in the last fifty years or so. These advances have literally shifted our specialty from the confines of the “dark room” to the full glare of the “front stage” when in the much happening world of doctor-patient relationship. With the changing trends in healthcare sector, a final diagnosis is rarely reached without any back up from the field of radio-diagnosis. Many times, Radiologist is the first one to pinpoint the diagnosis or raise a suspicion of the most probable diagnosis in any given scenario. Everything is good and satisfactory when giving a disclosing a diagnosis which has a definite cure. This modern newsman is then welcomed and profusely thanked by the patient as well as the referring doctor. But things are not easy when delivering bad news. When the Radiologist diagnoses a patient to have incurable ailment like cancer or genetic disease the new newsman as well as the patient and referring colleague land into emotional turmoil. This turbulence can take a toll of the emotional health of this bearer of bad news. Hence there is a need to follow a scientific approach towards breaking bad news and specifically developing the communication skills we lack on this frontier. Nothing can make bad news good. But a proper method of conveying it to patients or their relatives can ease the emotional shock and make it more acceptable. This article focuses on the yet unfocussed role of Radiologist as the new newsman of the millennium and reviews various strategies that can them to wear this hat with satisfaction and to deliver good as well as the bad news with courage and confidence. Key words: Medical Education Technology, Communication Skills, SPIKES, BREAKS, Educational Model, Bad News, Doctor-Patient relationship, Cancer, Malignancy, Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, Prenatal Diagnosis