Do you think the doctor should tell an elderly that she has 2 to 3 months to liv

1. 76

   Maggie-Mayposted 15 years ago

   Do you think the doctor should tell an elderly that she has 2 to 3 months to live?? I ask this...
   
   as I have seen my Grandmother give up because of it.  She will now say, "another week has passed," and I can see in her brilliant blue eyes that she is always thinking...I wish the doctor had not of told her.

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2. 38

   jiteposted 15 years ago

   you are correct,a doctor should not tell the patient like this.he must tell all these things to the patient attendants.

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3. 60

   telltaleposted 15 years ago

   I think the doctor should do an evaluation of the patient's psychological state, prior to telling the person.  While some cannot take the news, others may want to know, for the sake of making preparations, like a will or something one wants to do in his/her lifetime, but have not done it and would like to do before passing on.

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4. 60

   aheilposted 15 years ago

   if i only had a few weeks to live i would do some crazy stuff, but thats just me. i can see where your grandmother is coming from. maybe the doctor should not have told her and just told you guys.

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5. 0

   Chopsticksposted 14 years ago

   This very situation happened with my Ex's grandmother and she deteriorated rapidly and died within 2 months.  She was not well by any means, but the news of not having long was enough to make her give up all together.
   
   I wish you much love and light
   
   Chopsticks

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6. 58

   rieomposted 14 years ago

   I worked for a Cardiologist for over ten years.  He would always give the truth but, if a patient's family asked him not to, he would not.

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7. 61

   Dr. Haddoxposted 14 years ago

   Being a doctor is a very difficult thing. Sometimes practicing medicine can become a burden that only a doctor can relate to. Many people look up to doctors and say," doctors have great educations, they are wise, brilliant even, and they make lots of money." But trust my words, there are times that no amount of money is worth the task, work, or decision making that a doctor must do. Telling someone that they are dying or have only a little while to live is a very difficult thing to do. Watching people die is difficult. Again, being a doctor can, sometimes be, a very difficult thing. Dealing with death and dying is one of those times that practicing medicine is very difficult. God bless your grandmother. I am sorry about her suffering.

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