Question

A medical assistant is talking with a patient who just learned that she has advanced breast cancer. The patient says, "It's just an infection. I'm way too young to have cancer!" What action should the medical assistant take to help this patient during this stage of grief?

Answer 1

A medical assistant should offer empathetic support to a patient in denial about an advanced cancer diagnosis. Patient feelings should be acknowledged, and compassionate information about the condition should be provided while suggesting additional support resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a medical assistant encounters a patient who is in denial about their advanced cancer diagnosis, it is important to provide empathetic support. The patient's denial can be understood as part of the five stages of grief, as proposed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, which include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The medical assistant should calmly acknowledge the patient's feelings without dismissing them and provide clear, compassionate information about the diagnosis and treatment. Refraining from forceful confrontation about the denial can help maintain a trusting relationship. It may be beneficial to gently remind the patient of the importance of following medical advice and to suggest resources for psychological support, such as counseling services or support groups.