Guideline 12: Family carers displaying anger

While it is not common that family members are outwardly angry during a consultation, it can be difficult to manage when it occurs ²⁵.

Family carers may display anger for a number of reasons, such as:

• Hearing bad news (e.g. diagnosis, disease progression)
• Medical complications
• Negative emotions (e.g. fear, anxiety)
• Perception of medical error or negligence
• Issues with the healthcare system (e.g. long wait times, financial stress, lack of access to care)
• Relationship issues with the health professional (e.g. perception that the clinician is arrogant, judgemental, ignoring ignoring the family)
• Other causes including the carers own personality traits, substance use, or mental health issues ⁶⁵.

Often, it is a combination of factors that leads to a family member becoming angry.

For example, contributing to a family member's anger might be:

• A loved one being diagnosed with cancer (and the stress associated with this)
• Poor sleep due to stress
• Having to take time off work
• Financial stress of cancer tests, treatments, appointments
• Patient in physical pain/discomfort
• Patient unable to help at home

-> All of these can result in the carer feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and terrified - and the anger "bubbling over" to the health professional.

This doesn't make it ok that it happens (indeed, you have a right to come to work and not be abused!), but at least it gives you insight into how to help to improve the situation.