Prognostic Disclosure in Pediatric Oncology and Palliative Care - C. Habashy - 20260909

Framed by Emily Dickinson's poem "Tell all the truth but tell it slant," this webinar examines how, when, what, and by whom prognostic information should be shared with children, adolescents, and young adults (AYAs) with serious illness. The session traces the historical evolution of prognostic disclosure in pediatrics—from a "never tell" default through the mid-20th century to the "always tell" recommendation that emerged by the late 1980s. The lecture highlights key foundational and contemporary studies on prognostic disclosure. A central theme is that prognostic communication is not a single event but an evolving, relational process. A patient's story is used to anchor this principle by illustrating shifting patient engagement, parents acting as filters of medical information, the "next step" framing of difficult conversations, and the tension between "knowing everything" and "knowing enough."

Catherine Habashy

9/9/2026 3:30:00 PM