Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: 3D Scanning and Augmented Reality for Enhanced Cancer Surgery Communication
Published on: December 15, 2023
Ethical dilemmas in communicating bad news following histopathology examination
Dan Alexandru Constantin1, IonuŢ Horia Cioriceanu, Marilena Monica ţânŢu
1Department of Basic, Preventive and Clinical Sciences, "Transilvania" University of Brasov, Romania; ionut_cioriceanu@yahoo.com.
Purpose:
The study proposes an analysis of the ethical aspects that occur in communicating bad news following histopathology laboratory tests in medical practice, in particular in the case of the anatomical pathology diagnosis confirming a medical condition of poor prognosis.
Background:
Over the last decades, the progress of science and technology in the medical field, as well as the explosive increase of specialist information available on the Internet have led to unprecedented ethical issues related to the communication modality of histopathology test results to patients.
Content:
The paper analyses from an ethical and legislative perspective the main ethical dilemmas that occur when choosing a modality for communicating test results.
Discussion And Conclusions:
While communicating bad news is an essential ability for medical professionals, it should be used within the context of observing the patients' right to decide whether they wish to receive such information or not and their right to their own autonomy, by means of a personalized protocol for communicating bad news in current medical practice.
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
Ethics and Bioethics
Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...

