If you were terminally ill, would you want your doctor to tell you? That’s the subject of a provocative discussion in the British Medical Journal. The L.A. Times
, which reports on the debate, presents the arguments for and against. Those opposed to sharing the bad news argue that “we’re all dying” and “you never really know when and of what a patient will die.” One the other side we have “knowledge allows better decisions” and “a patient can still have hope — to live to see a daughter married or achieve a cherished goal or to die a peaceful death at home.” What can they agree about? This, according to the L.A. Times: Patients whose lives will probably be limited or ended by a disease deserve a forthright explanation of what treatment is available and what it probably would, and would not, accomplish if undertaken. What do you think? Know or not know? Tell us in the comment space below.
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Knowledge is power. I would definitely want to know.
I most definitely would wish to know. That being stasted, I do believe this is one of those choices that one needs to consider where they stand AND make those wishes known right up there with the other end of life issues such as DNR, ventilation & the like.
Death is about as personal as it gets. Dr’s are given a very unique opportunity to preserve the physical vitality of their patients.But Dr’s should also remember to honor them, they are not test subjects, they are paying customers. I have witness two camps when it comes to dying. The first are those whom for a veriety of reasons will fight to prolong life at every cost. Their suffering extends beyond themselves and usually irreputably damages the family’s they leave behind. The second camp is one of acceptance of death. Most have concluded long before such bad news that death is only part of the process of living. For a veriety of reasons they are content. Dr’s like-wise belong to either camp. Thier profession demands teir objectivity over their personal veiws and above all HONOR your Customer’s. I am under 50 and am not a medical profesional.