CASE
A 32-year old male is diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live. The doctor and other medical team members hesitate to inform him of his condition, given his youthful age, and the potential for him and his family not to accept the news.
QUESTION
Should the medical team disclose to the patient his terminal condition?
POSSIBLE SOLUTION
Breaking the news to the dying patient always present difficulties. In the recent past, some doctors thought it better to let patients know little of their condition, to avoid despair and difficulties of acceptance, and even, they claimed, to increase recovery chances.
However, persons facing death require sufficient opportunities to prepare for death. Therefore, informing them about their situation enables them to discuss their plans with family members, health care providers, and other parties (for example, their employer). They also need emotional and spiritual support.
Studies on seriously ill or dying patients show they want to know their true condition. But such revelation needs proper delivery, as abrupt or brutal communication could prove counterproductive. Furthermore, studies reveal that patients sooner or later learn their condition, even without direct communication.
The attending physician plays a central role. He may consult with the family, and together formulate plans on how to convey the news best to the patient. The Chaplaincy, Hospice Care Unit or other staff members trained in the dynamics of helping patients accept sickness, suffering, and death could assist the doctor and the family in this delicate task. On the other hand, well-meaning but untrained people could do more harm than good in crisis situations such as these. In summary, as one author would put it, “The question should not be ‘Should we tell?’ but rather, ‘How do we share this with the patient?’” (Kubler-Ross).
DISCLAIMER AS TO SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: These materials, including the original text (by the Author) and the AI-generated video content (via Google’s NotebookLM), are provided solely for educational and illustrative purposes. They present hypothetical scenarios (even though the AI-generated videos at times mistakenly say they took place in real life) and must not be construed as professional advice or a basis for operational or medical decision-making. Users are explicitly advised to seek the counsel of qualified experts and relevant bioethics committees for the proper assessment and determination of appropriate actions. The Author disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from the interpretation or application of these materials.
Copyright (C) 2025 by Author: Fr. Gregory Ramon D. GASTON, SThD, DComm. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No reproduction, transmission, or distribution of this content may be made without the explicit written permission of the author.