Formula for communicating prognosis doesn t work. Communication with patient part of treatment. Diagnosis and prognosis can be uncertain. Patient does not have full reasoning faculties. Patients do not want bad news.
Truthful information harms patients.
Although you have medical insurance, it does not cover many of the expenses you have had in the past. Last winter your insurance company refused to pay for antibiotics to treat bronchitis. Your family is very supportive of you and is interested in your health care. You are poorly educated, just barely graduating from high school. Although you are embarrassed to admit it, it is difficult for you to understand much of what physicians tell you.