"He's going to die" - Breaking bad news
Episode description
In this episode of Clinical Conversations, James Oswald (Paramedic and Clinical Practice Guidelines Specialist) and Dr. David Anderson (Ambulance Victoria Medical Director) tackle one of the most challenging aspects of paramedicine—delivering bad news. Joined by guest Liz Perry (MICA Paramedic), they explore the difficulties paramedics face when communicating death and critical updates to families in the pre-hospital setting.
We talk personal experiences, theoretical models like SPIKES, and practical strategies to navigate these conversations with confidence, clarity, and compassion. They also discuss the impact of breaking bad news on paramedics themselves and strategies to prevent burnout.
Get in touch
clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au
X / Twitter
David: @expensivecare
James: @JamesOz1