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Linda McConnell's avatar

2 scenarios come to mind.

1 - My doctor and I have come to an agreement as I listened to her and she actually listened to and heard me. She armed me with all the information I needed to make an educated decision regarding testing. She no longer brings up the subject of mammograms and colonoscopies and such because she understands I won't have the results treated. I respect that she respects my decision.

2 - This philosophy of sharing information and including the patient is actually what hospice does. Yes, I realize I am dealing with patients (families) at EOL, but the crux of the care given and denied is the same. [I use patient and family interchangeably because sometimes it is the family voicing the wishes of the patient who is aphasic]. We put the patient's wishes into practice. It is my job and the job of the Medical Director to give the family all of the information they need to make an educated decision of taking the medication, accepting the treatment, or not doing any of the above. Our families get on Google and Wikipedia frequently and base their decisions on what the internet says. We want, jointly, to give the best care to the patient and we can only do that by supplying him/her/them with honest information so they can join in an educated way in the plan of care.

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