Welcome to Ethics Consult -- an opportunity to discuss, debate (respectfully), and learn together. We present an ethical dilemma in patient care; you vote on your decision in the case. Next week, we'll reveal how you all made the call. And stay tuned -- Gregory Dolin, MD, JD, will weigh in next week with an ethical framework to help you learn and prepare.
A woman in her 90s who recently immigrated to the U.S. at the behest of her family presents to the doctor with symptoms of rapid weight loss and pain that she's had for a while. In her homeland, her healthcare was subpar, and she hadn't been to a doctor -- of any sort -- in years. Physicians diagnose her with stage 3 cervical cancer. The doctor reports the news to her family, and tells them that while the woman has insurance, the cost will be significant. The physician believes she has a 60% chance of survival with treatment.
The woman is cognizant and aware of her surroundings but speaks no English, and the doctor has been relying on her family members to translate. Upon hearing the diagnosis, the woman's son, who solely supports his mother financially, takes the doctor aside and requests that the doctor not tell his mother about her condition and to forgo treatment.
The rest of the family convenes and insists that the woman not be told or treated, explaining that in her native land, doctors generally shield such news from older patients and allow them to die peacefully without any attempts at intervention.
See the results and what an ethics expert has to say.
, is associate professor of law and co-director, Center for Medicine and Law at the University of Baltimore, where he also studies biopharmaceutical patent law. His work includes a number of scholarly articles, presentations, amicus briefs, and congressional testimony.
And check out some of our past Ethics Consult cases: OK to Give Babies Experimental Drug Not in Trial?, Deaf Couple Only Wants Deaf Baby, and Critical Patient With DNR Tattoo.