I can't believe some doctors would willingly and knowingly withhold information from loved ones and caregivers...seems unethical (especially if the patient gave permission for the doctor to discuss their health condition with their spouse...how can they talk about the health condition without mentioning health status and prognosis?). Are the loved ones mentioned in this study not remembering what the doctors said, as I would assume denial would be a HUGE part of this. Are the doctors lying, as I also assume one of the primary questions the caregiver/loved one would ask is, "what are the chances of treatment working or cure or survival". Lastly, does the patient know they are near death, and also not telling the spouse?
I would definitely want to know my spouse's health status, chances of recovery, chances of surviving...the entire prognosis. It would be difficult to hear that they are near death, but there is always hope. It is important to be able to have those last moments, as well as prepare for the process of death. Our society treats death very differently than others; I've always been interested in the Hispanic culture with their celebrations of death. Do they have less depression after the death of a spouse then cultures who do not celebrate, or otherwise effectively cope with, death?
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I can't believe some doctors would willingly and knowingly withhold information from loved ones and caregivers...seems unethical (especially if the patient gave permission for the doctor to discuss their health condition with their spouse...how can they talk about the health condition without mentioning health status and prognosis?). Are the loved ones mentioned in this study not remembering what the doctors said, as I would assume denial would be a HUGE part of this. Are the doctors lying, as I also assume one of the primary questions the caregiver/loved one would ask is, "what are the chances of treatment working or cure or survival". Lastly, does the patient know they are near death, and also not telling the spouse?
I would definitely want to know my spouse's health status, chances of recovery, chances of surviving...the entire prognosis. It would be difficult to hear that they are near death, but there is always hope. It is important to be able to have those last moments, as well as prepare for the process of death. Our society treats death very differently than others; I've always been interested in the Hispanic culture with their celebrations of death. Do they have less depression after the death of a spouse then cultures who do not celebrate, or otherwise effectively cope with, death?
July 20, 2008 - 11:32amThis Comment
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