Did You Have To Say “Yet”?

by Ryan Nottingham and Gregg VandeKieft (@vandekieftg)A middle-aged man* came to our ambulatory palliative care clinic with his family. With the exception of his recently diagnosed brain tumor, he was in peak physical condition. His diagnosis weighed heavily on his family and his personality changes and angry outbursts left them frayed. He did not feel the same burden as his family since these outbursts came to him in the form of blackouts. We could visualize him as a man of few words before his diagnosis, someone who would speak up with a dry one-liner. During this visit, his humor was touched with acidity. As we began our conversation, his pent up frustration slowly infused into the room. His wife was able to put her concerns on the table while his children held his hands. He visually softened and received their words without response. After the catharsis, when all questions had been asked and tears had been shed, the family looked exhausted but ready to move forward. Before the visit concluded, the physician completed a brief physical assessment. As he worked his way through the neurological exam, he noted positively to the patient, “no loss of strength yet”.The patient looked up at him and with a thick voice asked, “Why did you have to say ‘yet’?” The pause was palpable. Visibly chastened, the physician responded, “You’re right. I apologize. That wasn’t very sensitive.”Providing seriously ill patients with an honest idea of their disease while also hel...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: nottingham pharmacist physician vandekieft Source Type: blogs