http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2011/09/01/nejm-letter-to-the-editor-on-palliative-care-information-act/ End-of-Life Choice, Palliative Care and Counseling Sun, 29 Jul 2012 05:06:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2011/09/01/nejm-letter-to-the-editor-on-palliative-care-information-act/#comment-557 Dorothy Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:18:20 +0000 http://blog.compassionandchoices.org/?p=1633#comment-557 I agree fully with the demand that a patient has the right to full information when dying as to their treatment options and not be forced to undergo whatever treatment the physicians choose. However, this starts long before the patient is at this point, too often doctors will attempt to get the patient to undergo the doctor's choice ot therapy by insisting that this is the only alternative and must be followed. Should the patient seek information on alternative methods, some (probably and hopefully only a few doctors)will resort to bullying, frightening and even falsifying symptoms and patient's records. If this is perpetrated on aware and reasonably healthy people how can we possibly obtain different treatment for the dying. Respect for physicians is important, however respect from physicians for their patients is equally important. I agree fully with the demand that a patient has the right to full information when dying as to their treatment options and not be forced to undergo whatever treatment the physicians choose. However, this starts long before the patient is at this point, too often doctors will attempt to get the patient to undergo the doctor’s choice ot therapy by insisting that this is the only alternative and must be followed. Should the patient seek information on alternative methods, some (probably and hopefully only a few doctors)will resort to bullying, frightening and even falsifying symptoms and patient’s records. If this is perpetrated on aware and reasonably healthy people how can we possibly obtain different treatment for the dying. Respect for physicians is important, however respect from physicians for their patients is equally important.

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