When the news is not good

One thing about being a doctor, whether in general practice or in hospital, that never gets easier, is telling a patient that their test results are not good€”and then fielding the inevitable €œHow long have I got?€ Once the patient has begun to absorb the bad news, or perhaps even in expectation of bad news, most patients want to deal with all sorts of practical questions, from updating their will, to what they want played at the funeral. Many doctors will therefore welcome, as I did, the website Lasting Post. It is a free resource to point patients to information that can be of real help. It also aims to help those left behind, in both practical and supportive ways. When I saw this website, I was so impressed that I became its medical adviser.