Impending death – Is honesty always the best policy?

[naomi24]

At one time we hid the truth from the terminally ill, but now it’s common practice for doctors to tell them they’re going to die. Some accept it, but some live their last weeks and months in fear and hopelessness – and that’s very sad to witness. Families know their loved ones better than anyone, and are more likely to know how they will react to the bad news, so should they be consulted before the decision is taken by professionals to tell the patient the truth?

[owdhamer]

I was sent to see a doctor at the local hospice who said i was "fixated" with time, I only wanted to book a bloody holiday,

[LoftyLottie]

One this is certain, we will all die at some time and in the big scheme of things our life span is very very short. All I know is that I don't want my life prolonged by having loads of operations and medical intervention. I fear that far more than death.

[owdhamer]

I am not afraid of death, I have lived a full life seen a lot of the world,most of this with my own miss world.A lot of people will tell you the trearment is worse than the cause and its true, some of the side effects are horrid,and i will go no further. On another thread i was accused of being nasty , a misunderstanding, but there are many times i feel grumpy and fed up.I receive a lot of support off ABERS ,it means a lot.I wish you good night


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[naomi24]

//One thing I am very strongly against, as I have said on this thread is the "giving of a time span"//

I actually think it’s incredibly arrogant of anyone to assume that they know what is best for a stranger. ‘Time span’ or not, many people who are terrified of dying have unwanted information forced upon them and end up spending their remaining days in the misery of hopelessness rather than actually living until the end. The fact is, everyone is not a ‘text book’ case, and one size does not fit all.

Owdhamer, x