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Is there a “right time” for bad news? Kairos in familial communication on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk

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  • Derbez, Benjamin

Abstract

Time has long been considered as an important dimension of the process of disclosure of information about genetic risk to kin. The question of the “right time to tell” has been frequently noticed but seldom placed at the centre of the analyses of social scientists. Based on an ethnographical fieldwork in a French cancer genetics clinic, this article aims to show that many dimensions of the practical issues of disclosure to family can be fruitfully addressed through the temporal lens of kairos. Relying on the case of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk, it firstly highlights the existence of a mismatch between the “chronological” time of prevention proposed by professionals and the “kairological” time of disclosure lived by informants. Secondly, it emphasizes the problematic nature of the pragmatic approach of time associated with kairos. On the one hand one can draw some benefits from seeking the right time to inform relatives, but on the other hand waiting on uncertain opportunities to disclose such information can make communication even more difficult.

Suggested Citation

  • Derbez, Benjamin, 2018. "Is there a “right time” for bad news? Kairos in familial communication on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 13-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:202:y:2018:i:c:p:13-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.02.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Geelen, Els & Van Hoyweghen, Ine & Horstman, Klasien, 2011. "Making genetics not so important: Family work in dealing with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1752-1759, June.
    2. Dean, Marleah, 2016. "“It’s not if I get cancer, it’s when I get cancer”: BRCA-positive patients’ (un)certain health experiences regarding hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 21-27.
    3. Huniche, Lotte, 2011. "Moral landscapes and everyday life in families with Huntington's disease: Aligning ethnographic description and bioethics," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1810-1816, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Petersson, Jesper & Backman, Christel, 2022. "Patient-accessible online health records: Reconfigurations of clinical rhythms and doctors’ front- and backstage spaces," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    2. Rauscher, Emily A. & Dean, Marleah & Campbell-Salome, Gemme & Barbour, Joshua B., 2019. "“How do we rally around the one who was positive?” Familial uncertainty management in the context of men managing BRCA-related cancer risks," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).

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