LAUSR

Cancer is a challenging experience for the clinical team, the patient’s family, and especially the patient. Important medical decisions are often made without the patient completely understanding their condition and options, as well as without the clinical team fully appreciating the patient’s values that go into making healthcare choices. Family meetings are one way to address these concerns. This chapter will review the importance and benefits to holding a structured family meeting, explore appropriate timing to have a meeting, and discuss the key participants. A detailed discussion follows on how to prepare for the meeting, highlighting an exploration of patient and family values and goals, as well as a premeeting among clinical team members. The structure of the meeting itself is then described, including introductions between the medical team and family, gauging the patient and family’s understanding, providing clinical information and recommendations, giving psychosocial support, reconciling medical recommendations with values, and postmeeting debriefing. Throughout the text, specific advice is provided on how to ensure the family meeting is as successful as possible so that patient-centered care is the ultimate priority.