ecancer talks to Dr Steve Johnson at the 17^th European Haematology Association Congress in Amsterdam about the problems in communication between doctors and patients.

In a series held at each congress, doctors and actors playing patients perform a staged consultation to convey an example of how doctors should explain the risks and benefits of treatment to a patient.

The misunderstanding in communication centres around what clinicians think they have said versus what the patients think the doctor has said.

A number of factors cause the communication problems, such as legal consent, legislation and technical language, as well as patients maintaining a positive attitude by down playing risks.

Doctors should learn from this session that they need to have face-to-face discussions with the patient and another person who listens in to prevent over complication or misunderstanding.

Filming supported by Amgen