Why do doctors tell the family of terminally ill patients,'She has a week to live.'?

Question

I think it is unfair.My neighbor's mom is terminal with cancer,and the doctor keeps saying that...now for a month!

Answer 1

Because predicting death is not an exact science, and they do not want to accidentally give false hope.

Answer 2

When my mom was terminally ill, our GP told my dad that no doctor with any real sensitivity would give a patient or their family a definite time as no-one really knows, they can give a close estimate but most of the time people are effected so differently they have no way of knowing.
Some of the nurses tending to her said she could have a few months, she died the next day.

Answer 3

Surely it must be obvious by the time a patient is dying their chief anxiety is not for themselves but the effect mostly Psychological , remember a lot of guilt is floating about at this time as well as identification
The doctor all though not having been trained in death issues senses that it is the relations etc that need the TLC.
This is the doctors way of preparing the Family in a non hurried way wouldn't t do anything else be insensitive?

Answer 4

They say what they think after assessing a patient's condition. They are trying to be honest with the family as this is the only ethical thing to do. It can't be helped if they sometimes get it wrong. They do not have a crystal ball after all. They are just making an educated guess based on their years of medical training and experience. Telling someone a loved one has only a week to live can help them prepare for the worst and can ensure they understand the urgency of the situation and maximise their time with the loved one (saying things that they need to say etc.). It would be cruel for a medical professional to think that death is imminent and not inform the family of their belief

Answer 5

Firstly, if the family knows already it is terminal they should start to learn it is inevitable and reality is near. I know it is painful to hear the truth and I would agree-that it would be unfair for the Doctor attending to the medical condition of the patient to frankly say how much more time he has without any confirmed and valid medical verdict. I suggest that families with this circumstance use the remaining time to think of the next "necessity" instead of qualifying the fairness of the case.

Answer 6

They're required to inform the patient of their complete medical situation or diagnosis. Naturally, no-one wants to hear new like this but the doctor would be putting himself in a situation to be sued if he withheld information. My best friend was told she had less than 3 years to live last year, it was crushing, but she's done alot of things since that she wouldn't have taken time for had she not known---bought her dream car, quit her job to spend every minute with her children, updated her will, and is making financial arrangements that will protect her family from being left with her debts.

I'm sorry your friend has to go through this, but now they will cherish every moment of every day and be able to look back with no regrets for not having taken more time for mom.

Answer 7

It's not an exact science. They told my Aunt that she only had 6 months to live and that was over 10 years ago.

Yet it's important for the family to be prepared, emotionally, in case the person dies. My father was in the hospital with pneumonia and the doctor told my mother to prepare us kids and tell us that he's never coming home. Well, I was able to rearrange my work schedule enough so that I spent the day before he died with him, talking, watching tv, just being with him as he slept, etc. and I'm glad that I did. If the doctor hadn't said anything, I would have kept on just seeing him after work and stuff like that then he would have died without me really being able to accept the loss.

Answer 8

The doctor shouldn't say that unless they know it's going to be a week or less. It would be better if they made a more generic statement, such as "She may only have a week to live, but sometimes people in her condition live longer." That way the family would have more accurate knowledge of the circumstances, and yet still have the opportunity to take care of whatever unfinished business they have with their relative, say their goodbyes, and so forth.

Answer 9

Perhaps because they want to prepare the family for the shock. My mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, which was a brutal diagnosis for a non smoker. She had been healthy with no signs of illness until the coughing started. Although it was shocking to know that she was terminal, I am glad that I knew that my time with her was on borrowed time. It allowed me to be with my mother, care for her and love her in a way that I might not have if I didn't know her status. It also prepares you mentally for the day that they pass on. Death is brutal no matter how you slice it, but I think when you know that the time is near it aids you in the process.

Answer 10

Thing is we are all terminal. I think doctors should keep their opinions to themselves really as they are often wrong in terms of how long someone will live. I also think they should refrain from telling people that things are incurable because mostly they mean that they can't cure it which is not the same thing.

Answer 11

I believe it is fair enough because these doctor's are giving us the chance to show importance to our dying loved ones. At least they are frankly speaking that with most cases of the same illness the chances of living is very minimal so we have the chance to give the patient the happiest moments of their lives.