Please select the option that best describes you:
Should I treat a patient who doesn't know she has cancer?
My patient’s family has asked that I don’t tell her that she has metastatic cancer because it will devastate her. I am planning on palliating a painful hip metastasis. I told her that I am treating her pain with radiation, without mentioning her diagonsis, but I’m not sure if it was the right thing to do.
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
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...
Answer from: at Community Practice
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 ...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
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...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
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...
Comments
Radiation Oncologist at NorthBay Health Cancer Center - Radiology Oncology
I have had many similar experiences often with non...
I have had many similar experiences often with non...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
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...
Answer from: at Community Practice
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...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
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 ...
That doctor colluded with the family to deny their...
Hmm.. What about the autonomy of not wantin...