I think your question about families butting into health care is a really hard one. It's a conundrum, for sure. I certainly think families have every right to question the medical staff if they have doubts about treatment, and to get second opinions if their questions aren't answered satisfactorily. The issue I have is when the family member takes on the role of physician; then medical ethics come into play. I don't know the right answer. In Canada (or at least in the hospital I work in) we try to make end of life issues a conversation involving all the parties: the person who is ill, family, and care givers. We have family meetings and discuss the issues, and try to respect the wishes of the family and patient as much as possible. That's why we encourage everyone to think about what they would want if a catastrophic illness should occur, so the direction of care is easier to determine.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-04-22 04:14 am (UTC)It's a conundrum, for sure. I certainly think families have every right to question the medical staff if they have doubts about treatment, and to get second opinions if their questions aren't answered satisfactorily. The issue I have is when the family member takes on the role of physician; then medical ethics come into play. I don't know the right answer.
In Canada (or at least in the hospital I work in) we try to make end of life issues a conversation involving all the parties: the person who is ill, family, and care givers. We have family meetings and discuss the issues, and try to respect the wishes of the family and patient as much as possible. That's why we encourage everyone to think about what they would want if a catastrophic illness should occur, so the direction of care is easier to determine.