“Navigating Cultural Differences in Delivering Difficult Medical News”

Ethics Case Study
Group 2 – grp_2
Mr.  Jovanovic is a 70 year old male was admitted with abdominal pain, vomiting and jaundice.  After an ultrasound and a biopsy of the liver, he was diagnosed with liver cancer.  The diagnosis of liver cancer carries a poor prognosis.
You are the nurse taking care of Mr. Jovanovic.  While on your way to Mr. Jovanovic’s room to inform him of the findings, two of Mr. Jovanovic’s children stop you in the hallway. They ask you if the results are good or bad.  You explained the diagnosis to them.  Mr. Jovanovic’s children tells you that in their culture, they do not give bad news. The children believe that if the patient is given any bad news, their father will be depressed and will not be strong enough to fight the cancer.