Terminal diagnosis: tell the patient first, or the family first?

Depends on the patient's wishes and mental state, but the blanket rule should be the patient gets to know their own diagnosis first.

I watched this happen with my mum. They told Dad first and he fell apart before telling her. She found out from a nurse overhearing. Absolute nightmare. Just be honest with the patient.

Patient first. Always. It's their life, their body, their choice about what happens next.

Family first, obviously. They're the ones who need to step up and be ready to support. Dropping this bomb on a scared patient without prep is cruel.

This is such a hard call. I get wanting to protect people, but lying to the patient about their own diagnosis? That erodes trust at the worst possible time.