A car suddenly pulled over in front of the Emergency Department at Hospital 103 in Hanoi, carrying a 30-year-old man who was critically ill after experiencing a severe headache. Dr. Do Duc Thuan, the Deputy Head of the Stroke Department at Military Hospital 103, rushed to attend to the patient and emphasized the urgency of coordinating a rescue effort to save his life on April 24. The patient had suffered a ruptured aneurysm that led to a stroke and was admitted unconscious. Despite the grave prognosis, medical staff dedicated all their efforts to treating him while Dr. Thuan prepared his wife for the difficult news.
When faced with such situations, doctors must navigate the delicate process of informing families about their loved ones’ prognosis. In cases where patients die suddenly, it is crucial to prepare family members for the news to help them cope with their grief. Dr. Thuan’s experience in delivering heartbreaking news has taught him the importance of compassion, empathy, and effective communication.
In another scenario at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City, a 35-year-old man with a positive prognosis suddenly deteriorated, leading to a tragic outcome despite the medical team’s best efforts. Doctor Hoang Tien Trong Nghia, the Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, highlighted the challenges that arise when managing unexpected conditions that can arise even when patients seem stable.
The World Health Organization defines sudden death as an unexplained and non-violent fatality occurring within a short period after symptoms appear. Communicating such devastating news to grieving families requires skilled professionals who can provide support, explanations, and empathy during their time of loss.
While dealing with death and bereavement is an inevitable aspect of medical practice, doctors strive to mitigate families’ pain and support them during their time of loss by providing timely information, supportive communication and closure through preparing them for such events.
It is essential for medical staff to have training on how to communicate effectively with families when it comes to delivering bad news or informing them about sudden death cases. By doing so they can help families come terms with their loss while also providing emotional support during this challenging time.
