Shielding patients from difficult diagnoses undermines their autonomy
The affection families express for their dying loved ones can take many forms. Recently, I saw a spry 91-year-old Spanish-speaking gentleman with lung cancer which had consumed the better part of his right lung. He had a large family with many doting daughters. In his neighborhood, he was popular and well respected. He, according his family, had “many girlfriends.” His lung cancer was no doubt a result of a …
Shielding patients from difficult diagnoses undermines their autonomy
