The evolving field of oncology increasingly requires
a team of medical specialists working in unison to deliver
optimal medical care. While this coordination may
maximize the technical synergy of care, it can challenge
interprofessional and interdisciplinary connections.
Poor and miscommunication and conflicts between
staff and between the family and providers adversely
affect patient care and quality of life. Furthermore, lack
of communication leaves a vacuum that sucks in fear. A
recent Newsweek article highlighted the challenges of
practicing in the age of high-tech medicine. The author
had to beg for a prognosis for her critically ill and dying
husband, with unhelpful subspecialists failing to communicate
the bigger picture. This article explores the
tough issue of how teams handle uncertainty and bad
news and how patients and families can be better supported
in the multifaceted paradigm of modern care.
The Oncologist 2006;11:520–526