what you think? can a doctor ????

Question

when a dr diagnosis that patien is suffering from cancer; or aids; or hepatitis; or brain tumour;or any other life threatining disease; then can dr directly tells the diagnosis to patient and there relatives ;;in such cases some drs are state forward and they directly tell the diagnosis to patient and his or her relatives ;but there are drs they dont tell the diagnosis;in fear that patients reaction will worse the condition ;so they dont tell diagnosis directly ;they search for a indirect way;;; what is your opinion???plz dont joke;

Answer 1

I think the doctor has an obligation to tell the patient what the diagnosis is so they can get teir act together.

Answer 2

By HIPPA law the doctor can only give the diagnosis to the patient and ONLY the patient. The only way he can tell a relative is if the patient has given their consent (and it is documented), the patient is a minor (then it is only given to the parent or legal guardian), or in extreme cases the patient is incapacitated (then it is given to the health care power of atty). Also, I have never heard of a doctor withholding a diagnosis, no matter how bad it is. This would delay proper treatment.

Answer 3

When I had cervical cancer I wasn't told. The tumor was removed and I was put on a course of drugs. It was only when I had to have a bone scan a few years later that I found out about the cancer. When I asked my doctor about this he said that he had had meetings with my surgeon and they had decided that it was in my best interest that I didn't know as my mental health at the time couldn't have coped with it.

Looking back, I feel that my doctor was right and he did the right thing and I thank him for that.

With things like cancer, sometimes it is better for the patient if they don't know everything and doctors have the difficult task of deciding what is best for that individual.

Answer 4

I would want to Know up front what is going on the truth and what are all my options