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Dear Marty: I'm glad to hear this. I agree -- there are many kind and gentle ways to present a worse case scenario -- like saying, "This probably won't happen." My general practicioner was (and is) that way -- always hopeful. His favorite, "You're going to be okay, honey. We'll do whatever it takes." Needless to say, I love the man, and would drive miles just to see him! I wish he was my oncologist, but he is the doctor who saved my life by insisting on all the tests until "they" found out what was wrong. He's a saint. Love, Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
[mailto:owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com]On Behalf Of Martin Auslander
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 8:02 AM
To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com; Kathy Corrigan
Subject: Re: [MOL] thanks Kathy
DEar Kathy,
I can tell you now, that Doctors are not required to automatically
predict statistics about life expectancy or make comment on life
expectancy. Now, they may say "this is all I can do for you" implying
that he/she is limited to the protocal of treatment that his/her
facility can provide or maybe he is limited to experience, but the Doc,
in my view, should never automatically tell someone how long he/she has
to live. In addition there are very diplomatic ways of answering
someones concern about life expectancy when asked of doctor and that
doesnt have to be a prediction either. I have spoken to many great
oncologists and they have varying views on how to say certain events or
circumstances, but the vast majority do not automatically tell someone a
life expectancy nor do they reply with a prediction of life expectancy
when asked. There are many ways to diplomatically replying and generally
it is all positive, even in a negative circumstance. They should and
must not ever take away hope. In my opinion.
God Bless
marty
> kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
>
> Dear Marty: Yours was an inspiring story, too, and I thank you. I
> don't know why doctors give dire predictions out of their realm of
> expertise, either. I know that sometimes doctors feel compelled to
> give the worse case scenario, but I don't think they're required to do
> that. I'm going to check into that. Our firm handles malpractice
> cases from time to time, and I'd be interested. Thanks for
> responding, Marty. I always love to hear from you. Love, Kathy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com
> [mailto:owner-mol-cancer@lists.meds.com]On Behalf Of Martin Auslander
> Sent: Sunday, February 07, 1999 9:51 PM
> To: Medical On Line Forum; Kathy Corrigan
> Subject: [MOL] thanks Kathy
>
> Dear Kathy,
>
> Thank you for this wonderful message. Pls excuse the delay as I took
>
> Barb, my wife, to Mexico to buy some medications and vitamins. then
> we
>
> had an appointment at the immune therapy clinic that she is being
>
> treated by. Left on WEd night and back on Sat. So pls excuse the
> delay.
>
> Just so you know. WE told the Onc up front when Barb was diagnosed,
> we
>
> didnt want to know what he thought about life expectancy and his
> remark
>
> back was very kiddingly to make it light, "so don't ask". As it turned
>
> out when Barb was hospitalized on numerous events for very traumatic
>
> circumstances, there were some doctors who were not Oncologists and
> were
>
> seeing her for varying reasons, pulled me aside and told me that they
>
> did not expect her to come out of hospital alive. I told one Doctor
> when
>
> he said that "then you don't know my wife and who the hell (pardom me)
>
> asked you? With all due respect just treat my wife for what you are
>
> qualified to treat her with and leave the predictions up to God, Barb
>
> and I". Well he was purturbed but was very respectful as he sees Barb
>
> from time to time 4 years later and smiles at us. Believe me he knows
> he
>
> was wrong. I hope he learned a lesson to treat others with respect and
>
> not with wisdom that he is not qualified to provide. We encounted
> other
>
> doctors as well with similar views who are not Oncologists. I cant
>
> understand why physicians go out of their realm of expertise to
> predict
>
> life expectancy from a condition they know little of. In many cases I
>
> believe we know more than they about life and dedication and
>
> determination. Thanks for your encouragment Kathy. You are indeed an
>
> inspiration to all here, as you are to me.
>
> God Bless
>
> marty auslander
>
> > kcorrigan@chgw.com wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Dear Marty: I do agree with every word you said. My doctor didn't
>
> > want to give us a statistical prognosis -- Jerry asked her, and I
>
> > could tell she was reluctant to say anything. She just sort of
>
> > mumbled, "Oh, 25 to 40%." She never said 25 to 45% of what, and I
>
> > changed the subject immediately, and on we went. She was always
> very
>
> > upbeat and optimistic when I went to see her, and would express her
>
> > joy and amazement at how well I was doing. She probably didn't have
>
> > the best bedside manner in the world, but she certainly didn't have
>
> > the worst. She didn't take away my hope, and what additional
>
> > encouragement and support I needed, I certainly got from her staff!
>
> > What a wonderful bunch of people. I researched my type of cancer on
>
> > the Internet, and I knew myself what I was up against, and the
>
> > prognoses I found there were absolutely horrible! But, I'd go back
> to
>
> > see my friends at the center, and I didn't feel frightened or
> hopeless
>
> > any longer. The place is always full of flowers and candy and other
>
> > goodies sent by their patients. One lady made silk floral
>
> > arrangements for the entire place -- and it's huge! Other patients
>
> > have sent pictures of themselves and their families and they're all
>
> > over the walls. The nurses know my voice on the phone and so does
> the
>
> > pharmacist. They must all take classes on public relations, because
>
> > they do a bang-up job! I was luckier than some -- I know from being
>
> > on this forum. Some of the doctors out there behave outrageously.
>
> > Keep it up, Marty! Your fan, Kathy
>
> >
>
> > -----Original Message-----
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