As a Patient's Prognosis Worsens, Interpersonal Communications Often Deteriorate

Multiple Choice

As a patient's prognosis worsens, interpersonal communications often deteriorate. The reasons for this breakdown are generally due to

A) health care providers often have feelings of guilt or failure and are therefore reluctant to talk about the future.
B) a worry that focusing on death will cause the patient to die sooner.
C) indifference among medical staff members.
D) the belief that others do not want to talk about death.
E) long-term communication problems in the family.