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Breaking Bad News

A PLAB 2-style end-of-life care scene showing a clinician’s hands offering a cup of water and a folded leaflet with a hospice icon to a patient’s family. In the softly lit background, an older patient rests in bed while a relative holds their hand. The composition conveys calm, dignity, and compassion in muted blue and amber tones.

PUID: 62 || PLAB 2 Mock 3 :: BBN1: Dementia Mother

Break bad news sensitively in terminal dementia: link symptoms, use SPIKES with pauses, decline harmful interventions, and pivot to palliative care.

examiner mla

Oct 123 min read

A warm, softly lit portrait-style image of one hand gently cradling another, symbolizing empathy and support—ideal for a PLAB 2 communication skills blog.

PUID: 51 || PLAB 2 Mock 1 :: BBN1: Dementia Mother

Compassionately deliver terminal dementia diagnosis using SPIKES; explain shift to palliative care, manage emotion, plan support.

examiner mla

Jul 272 min read

A middle-aged male doctor empathetically communicates serious news to a distressed female carer in a quiet hospital setting, representing a typical PLAB 2 scenario on breaking bad news and palliative care.

PUID: 42 || PLAB 2 Mock 1 :: BBN1: Dementia Mother

Master the art of breaking bad news in PLAB 2 with this comprehensive SPIKES-based guide to managing end-stage dementia scenarios.

examiner mla

Jul 132 min read

A soft-focused, portrait-style image of a doctor in a white coat and stethoscope gently holding the hand of a distressed family member in a quiet hospital room, conveying empathy, support, and compassionate communication.

Breaking Bad News, Post-Surgical Stroke Case: PLAB 2 Mock Scenario

Master the SPIKES protocol in PLAB 2's breaking bad news scenario: compassionately deliver post-op stroke diagnosis to a relative.

examiner mla

Jun 192 min read

A doctor sitting across from a distressed relative in a softly lit hospital room, gently holding their hand with a compassionate expression. The setting includes a hospital bed and medical equipment in the background, subtly highlighting empathy and emotional support.

Breaking bad news transition to Palliative Care for an Unconscious Stroke Patient: PLAB 2 Mock Attempt 2

Master the art of breaking bad news in PLAB 2. Learn to manage time, convey prognosis, and support relatives with structured empathy.

examiner mla

Jun 192 min read

A compassionate male doctor in a white coat sits beside a worried woman in a softly lit hospital room. He gently holds her hand in support, while she looks down with concern. In the background, a hospital bed and medical monitor are dimly visible, emphasizing the emotional moment and human connection.

Breaking bad news transition to Palliative Care for an Unconscious Stroke Patient: PLAB 2 Mock Attempt 1

Learn how to deliver difficult news and manage end-of-life care in PLAB 2 with confidence using the SPIKES protocol and GMC-aligned strategies

examiner mla

Jun 192 min read

A digital educational graphic features the title "PALLIATIVE CARE" with the subtitle "Treatment for comfort and dignity." An illustration shows a compassionate nurse gently holding the hand of an elderly patient in bed. To the right, a red circle with a slash overlays an image of antibiotic capsules, accompanied by the text "Antibiotics not generally used," emphasizing the comfort-focused approach of palliative care.

🩺 Antibiotics at the End of Life: Comfort First, Not Cure: A PLAB 2 mock Scenario

Antibiotics in palliative care should prioritize comfort over cure—UK guidance stresses symptom relief and shared decision-making.

Ann Augustin

Jun 183 min read

Delivering Bad News and Initiating Palliative Care – A PLAB 2 Mock Scenario

Breaking bad news in PLAB 2: Mastering the SPIKES protocol for transitioning stroke patients to palliative care with empathy and clarity.

examiner mla

Jun 152 min read

PLAB 2 Mock Scenario: Breaking Bad News in Terminal Dementia – A Guide to Compassionate and Ethical Communication

Explaining terminal dementia and palliative care in PLAB 2: how to handle carer concerns with empathy, clarity, and clinical precision.

examiner mla

Jun 142 min read

Case Scenario: Breaking Bad News – Unstable Pelvic Fracture in a Child

A worried mother sits in a hospital, a doctor comforting her as she learns her child needs urgent surgery for an unstable pelvic fracture.

Ann Augustin

Mar 142 min read

Breaking Bad News in a Terminal Diagnosis Scenario: Informing a Spouse about a Massive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Learn compassionate, effective strategies for breaking bad news in PLAB 2's terminal diagnosis scenarios. Master empathy and communication.

Ann Augustin

Nov 6, 20242 min read

Breaking Bad News Over the Phone - Father's Terminal Condition

Summary: This case involves breaking bad news over a telephone call to the son of a patient who has suffered a massive bleed and is in a...

examiner mla

Oct 20, 20242 min read

A Compassionate Approach to Breaking Bad News in Healthcare

A guide for healthcare professionals to effectively deliver bad news using the Spikes and EVE protocols with empathy and clarity.

Ann Augustin

Aug 18, 20243 min read

Breaking Bad News with Compassion: Cancer Diagnosis

Learn how to effectively break bad news about osteosarcoma with empathy and clarity. Focus on patient support, safety netting, and follow-up

examiner mla

Jun 20, 20242 min read

Breaking Bad News with compassion: Father with ICH

Learn how to deliver terminal news with empathy using the SPIKES protocol.

examiner mla

Jun 19, 20242 min read

Feedback Summary: Breaking Bad News and Dementia with Weight Loss

Examiner delves into the intricacies of effectively delivering bad news through minimizing data gathering and understanding patient concerns

examiner mla

Jun 19, 20243 min read

Breaking Bad News Station: SPIKES Approach and Key Considerations

Delivering a terminal diagnosis is one of the most challenging tasks a doctor faces. Learn how to tackle that in your PLAB 2 exam

examiner mla

Jun 17, 20242 min read