Discussing Care

One issue that prevents some from utilizing hospice care is the simple fact that many doctors are resistant to discussing such issues with their patients until it may be too late to do so. This was the topic of a recent survey, described in the following quote from a NY Times article:

The researchers surveyed 4,074 doctors who took care of cancer patients, instructing them to imagine one who had only four to six months left, but was still feeling well. Then the doctors were asked when they would discuss the prognosis, whether the patient wanted resuscitation or hospice care, and where he or she wanted to die.

The results came as a surprise: the doctors were even more reluctant to ask certain questions than the researchers had expected. Although 65 percent said they would talk about the prognosis “now,” far fewer would discuss the other issues at the same time: resuscitation, 44 percent; hospice, 26 percent; site of death, 21 percent. Instead, most of the doctors said they would rather wait until the patients felt worse or there were no more cancer treatments to offer.

While it is difficult to discuss end of life care, a bit of forethought and planning can make this time as easy and comfortable as possible for both patient and family.