Full article link here: www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1...

And we close with a “top ten” list of cautions and guidance for those encountering humor in clinical work day to day…

We listed some examples of how this plays out (using my own art)…

In our paper, we suggest the most important thing to consider is the source and the object… who’s making the humor and what is it about?? Some source/object combos are off limits, some high risk, some generally safe.

It may seem obvious, but patients get more leeway than docs!

Patients use humor for coping, to communicate around sensitive topics, to build rapport, or to reassert control in scary times…

clinicians also use humor to cope, build rapport, or even lighten the mood. But when’s the wrong time or the right time!?

Of course! the second of my two posts (as well as the longer explanation on IG) mention those situations… when a discussion/answer is urgent. :)

Some of the times I’ve missed the mark the worst in serious illness conversations over the years have been when I barged into a new topic without specifically asking permission first. #hapc

In situations where a patient says they can’t handle a pressing diagnosis/decision that needs urgent action, I ask if there’s a family member they trust to handle the info and decision, if not, I try to give them some control over details of how info is shared before proceeding. #hapc

Historically on Twitter and IG, still fairly active on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/inkvessel/

:) Yes, definitely!! (I think real empathy is often a driver, Just never want the tissues to become a disruption rather than a kindness… have witnessed some very silly situations where the whole moment was railroaded by clinicians like myself jumping around try to find them!)

Thanks so much for the kind words!! Makes me happy to hear the art is useful!

Hooray! You’re here too!!! Thanks for saying “hi!”

2/2 #hapc #grief