amazing NY Times article

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited June 2014 in Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/health/04doctor.html
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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited April 2010

    I keep thinking about this article.  I am trying to understand how she was making such insistent medical decisions when she didn't even know the extent of her disease.  I also think she chose her career because she was working through her very complicated, unresolved feelings about her own illness.  This seems like something I would do (but the having all details go to my husband, I wouldn't do - I need to know).

     I don't think doctors should ever push hospice and palliative care too hard on a patient who isn't ready.  Clearly, she wasn't ready.  But I also think it is right and heroic for patients to accept that treatment has ended and they should take advantage of resources available for a peaceful death.  My mother had such a death and I'm sorry the doctor in this story didn't. 

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2010

    yes....it was such an interesting story because it does have such conflicts. It's hard to imagine a doctor not wanted to know, or honestly not self-diagnosing. It makes me sad she died in such pain, but the psyche is complicated.

    If nothing else it shows doctors are very human!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited April 2010

    It saddens me that she died in pain, but then, I am afraid of dying in pain.  Like her, I want, no NEED, to be in control.  It's MY life, it should be MY choice what treatments I accept or decline.  It shouldn't be the doctors' choice, the insurance company's choice, or the government;s choice.  I envy her ability to stay in control. 

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  • pookie61
    pookie61 Member Posts: 257
    edited April 2010

    It is interesting that as a patient who happens to be a doctor she chose to have her husband as a shield between herself and her own physicians.  I think it shows that while it is one thing to be an oncologist, it is quite another to be a patient.

    Thanks for posting this story.  We are individuals who will make different choices about our treament.  The important thing to me is that I have a doctor who will tell me when they feel it is time to give up active treatment and move on to hospice. 

    Take care.

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