Guideline 5: Observing family relationships

How patients want their family to be involved in consultations (and how carers themselves want to be involved) varies widely ^8,39. These preferences, as well as the needs and abilities of the patient and family carer, can change over time ⁸.

Misalignment between how the patient wants their carer to behave, and how the carer actually behaves, may signal (or contribute to) family conflict.

Clinicians should remain alert to problematic patient-family dynamics and respond accordingly.