Giving a scan result to a man with a persistent cough
PLAB 2 practice station
Breaking bad news · 1 min to read · 8 min to perform
Mr Ahmed Siddiqui, aged 61, was sent by his GP with a persistent cough and weight loss.
Ahmed SiddiquiHello doctor. I came on my own. My wife is at home. I have been dreading this, so please just tell me.
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Open the full station (charts, voice, result letter) →The task
You are a doctor in a hospital outpatient clinic. Mr Ahmed Siddiqui, aged 61, was sent by his GP with a persistent cough and weight loss. A CT scan and a biopsy have been done. The report you have just read shows a lung cancer, with no other details yet about spread. He has come alone. Tell him the result and respond to his concerns. You have no further information on treatment or outlook. The examiner will not take part in the conversation.
What this station tests
- Ask what the patient knows and wants to know before giving news.
- Use a warning shot, say the word cancer plainly, then stop and allow silence.
- Do not promise or predict what you cannot know.
- Leave with a clear next step and a named contact.
Sources for the clinical content
- NICE CG138: Patient experience in adult NHS services
- NICE NG122: Lung cancer: diagnosis and management
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.