I read this essay in class about whether doctors should withhold information about a serious illness to a patient. Would going easy on them, and not letting them know the seriousness of their condition, really benefit them? If they don't know their tumor is inoperable, would they be more inclined to keep their hopes up? Maybe. But in the end this could come with some serious disappointment, so it raises the question: to tell, or not to tell?
In my opinion, if you trust a doctor enough to examine you in the first place, you should be able to trust them to tell you if something is wrong. If you're going on a family vacation, should they withhold the information until you get back? In some cases, waiting could mean the difference between life or death. I mean, sure people are sometimes more optimistic if they know there's a shred of hope, but what would they do if they knew there wasn't? Why, they would get things ready for when they're gone, of course. If someone is dying they have a right to know. They should have time to write a will and maybe even do some last minute things before they kick the bucket. The could reclaim a friendship, rebuild some bridges that have been burned, even pay off some of their loans so their kids don't have to deal with it when they're gone. Likewise, if you knew you were dying would you just sit there and take it? Or would you rise up and fight whatever it is that's trying to take your life? Most people would fight until they had absolutely nothing left, and they wouldn't give up very easily. The fact of the matter is, you can't try to fight something off unless you know you have it. Trust should be one thing that's between you and your doctor.
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