Should I treat a patient who doesn't know she has cancer?
Interesting opinions. Wonder if anyone has their own experience. I will bite.
My grandfather was diagnosed with mesothelioma (he had worked in a salt plant laden with asbestos). He had 9 children in North America and was staying with them. They chose, as a family, not to tell him he had cancer. We a...
As a radiation oncologist who is also licensed to practice law, I often mention to my colleagues that the ethics is the ceiling and the "law" is the floor--meaning that as healthcare providers we have a duty to uphold the ethics of medicine (Whether you believe in deontological or utilitarianism eth...
I agree with trying to understand their cultural reasons for doing so. We have had this discussion from an ethical lens - a patient has a right to know details about their diagnosis but also has a right not to know. I let the family know that I cannot lie to a patient, and I allow an open space for ...
An interesting dilemma that comes up often. My opinion is that it is not ethical to deny a person knowledge of their diagnosis. I also believe it violates the premise of informed consent. I personally insist on informing the patient of their diagnosis and obtaining full informed consent before agree...
I have had a similar experience before. Often, the family members underestimate their parents or grandparents. First, I think it is in the best interest of the patient to know what is going on with their body and their future. With metastatic cancer, one needs to get his/her affairs in order. On a t...
There is diagnosis... And then consequences. I am sensitive to the latter and always ask (and allow the patient to decide not the family, who can speak to you separately in the hallway if need be) "Are you ready to talk about the impact this diagnosis has on your life" etc.
If they say no, and they ...
As physicians, we have a duty to respect our patients' autonomy and provide them with all the information they need to make informed decisions about their health. While the family's desire to protect the patient from distress is understandable, withholding her cancer diagnosis compromises her abilit...
I would tell the patient that we knew what was causing their symptoms, and ask them if they wanted to know what their diagnosis was, and might even say that their family thought they wouldn't want to know. Assuming they are a competent adult, if the patient did NOT want to know their diagnosis, I'd ...