I would like people's opinion about what is an approach to handling
the following situation from an HPCT viewpoint:
An older person has gone through some medical testing. The tests
point to a cancer condition. But the diagnosis can only be probable
without a biopsy. The older person refuses the biopsy. The older
person is experiencing considerable pain and GI symptoms and is
losing weight because of fear of eating. The symptoms will continue
and worsen if the cancer diagnosis is correct.
Most of the older person's children don't want to take hope away by
"hitting the person in the face" with a diagnosis of cancer. Their
attitude is to provide caring and doing. One child wants the parent
to know.
What is the HPCT approach to handling this situation? My reading of
HPCT is to tell the older person if the person wants to know and
don't tell otherwise. It is not so easy to tell what the older
person wants to know, however. The older person may be in conflict
about wanting and not wanting to know. The older person has already
made the decision that the person does not want any chemotherapy or
surgery or any other "heroic" efforts.
What is your reading of HPCT in this ethics sort of situation?
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To: CSGnet people
From: David Goldstein
Subject: an ethics issue?
Date: 05/15/92