To tell or not to tell if a patient is dying?

[king arthur]

This is a very controversial question:

Should the doctor tell a patient... he or she is dying and how much time left?

Your opinion and your take on this.

[Tankdown]

It is totaly selfish to keep it to yourself...they have to know so they lest can enjoy what is left....

I do remember the 5 stages they go through when dieing

Denial
Bargging
Anger
Depression
Accptance

I see that as soon as they accpte that they will die they lest get to enjoy as much time as possible.

[Mark930]

I would say yes because it gives the family a change to accept the fact that their loved one is going to die. People also need to have a chance to make things right with the dying person, because too many people live in regret of what they should or shouldn't have said to that person. A lot of people do not get this change if someone's life is taken without warning.

This is another reason why we need to set things right in our lives now because you never know when someones life is going to be taken.

[kentucker4]

Hmmm, I think so. It's kind of like the doctor would be playing god not to tell them.

[Tankdown]

I used the wrong term when I said "Selfish".

You must remember that doctors are humans just as us. They feel and care for people. When I think to myself about my shy days of a child. I often think of how I was afired of hurting people feelings. In logical terms it is seflish to keep it from them....but on own emotional terms the doctor did want to do some good.

In a way, we all want to protect each other from a little suffering.

[kentucker4]

Yea, I could see a doctor doing it with sincere intentions. But I would feel guilty not telling someone.

[Astral Knight]

I am not sure, maybe I am too young for this type of experience, some people might be frighten to hear the news like that. I voted no opinion.

[ridersonthestorm]

The medical proffession must have the obligation to inform the patient of the status. It would be unprofessional not to tell. The family can also bring a civil suit against the hospital/clinic if their loved one was neglected of such info. Who else is going to tell the bad news? this goes on the doctors conscience if they don't tell,and if they do tell. It's a personal and ethnical busines.

[mossy]

Doctors should tell people for sure.
At least then the person can go out and enjoy the rest of their life to the fullest.
i.e. do all the things they wanted to do.
The only problem is if the doctor is wrong. (as they are once in a while)
then all the persons family and themselves have all grieved over nothing.
but i suppose then theyd all be really happy too that the person is going to stay alive.

[Sapphire]

You might be surprised about my answer-- I really did not care. But this was before.

Now, listen to everybody's words, gave me the second thought. Maybe everybody is right, the doctors should tell how much time left for the patient.

My opinion used to be: It does not matter, whether you know or not; or you finish your wish or job or not. But it seems irresponsible.

Now, I do agree.

Knowing ahead of time is only fair. Just hopefully, the patients do not recover, or they might suit the doctors.

[mossy]

yeah, imagine that,
you sell everything and have the best time of what youve got left then you get better and have noting
that would suck

i reackon that the doctor telling you would have more of an impact on your loved ones though

[silverhorse]

mossy said:

yeah, imagine that,
you sell everything and have the best time of what youve got left then you get better and have noting
that would suck

i reackon that the doctor telling you would have more of an impact on your loved ones though

It is a catch 22 thing.