<p>because I am usually an optimisstic person is it good?</p>
<p>1) I don't think it really matters unless you get to the extreme point where you're telling someone with pancreatic cancer that they're going to be alive in 18 months.</p>
<p>2) That said, I think it's most important to be a realistic. All the data is out there as far as 5 year survivability for certain conditions and so on. Even the most horrible conditions still have "a chance". But it's unethical to tell a patient that they're going to be fine when that's not the case, just as it's unethical to not tell a patient that there is a risk of them dying or some other bad outcome - even from a routine procedure.</p>
<p>Presenting clinical information requires accuracy and sensitivity.</p>
<p>Being an optimist in the sense of being pleasant and non-negative about most things has definite advantages around the hospital.</p>