Unrealistic Expectations?

Goals of care conversations that promote shared decision-making are essential. But what to do if your medical recommendations don’t align with the patient’s thoughts about effective treatments?

Here, we look at the concept of “unrealistic expectations” or mismatched agendas, reframing these as an opportunity to connect and understand our patient’s values around life, serious illness and death, as well as to share with them information relevant to the goals of care discussion.