Jun 26 2012: As a nurse who has dealt for many years with dying patients, I have one important idea to mention. Physicians have a moral responsibility to tell a patient when they are nearing the end of their life.
I have been in the unfortunate position of being the bearer of this news. Frequently I feel that I often do not have all the details, while the person who did have the information, chose not to share them with the patient. Come on, doctors! Don't you think your patients deserve to hear the most important information in their lives from you? Just because it's something you can't fix, doesn't make it essential for you to deal with.
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A comment on Conversation: Should medical ethics be taught in medical school?
I have been in the unfortunate position of being the bearer of this news. Frequently I feel that I often do not have all the details, while the person who did have the information, chose not to share them with the patient. Come on, doctors! Don't you think your patients deserve to hear the most important information in their lives from you? Just because it's something you can't fix, doesn't make it essential for you to deal with.