possible USMLE Question.

[RussianJoo]

How would you answer this question?

A 71 year old female is brought to the hospital by her relatives because of recent weight loss and shortness of breath. A CXR shows a large central mass. It's identified to be squamous cell carcinoma that's unresectable. The family asks you to not tell the patient of your diagnosis because it will only upset her and quicken her death. What do you do?

A) Tell the family that you can no longer be their physician due to the ethical complication and offer a referral.
B) Tell the patient about the lab result findings and refer her to an oncologist, and also call up the ethical committee and inform them of the situation.
C) tell the patient that her lab results are available and you can discuss them with her if she wants to.
D) Schedule a referral to an oncologist and explain to him the family wishes.


Which would you guys pick? I chose C. I know that we should fully disclose all info to our patients, but i read somewhere that if there's no treatment for the disease and the family feels that it will only quicken the patients death that you shouldn't tell the patient the diagnosis.

[jaywalk81]

C all the way

[RussianJoo]

yeah that's what i figured cool thanks.

[IMG SURVIVOR]

If you are between what will Jesus do and what the law tell you, even if it is harsh or you look like a russianjoo pick what the law says.

[RussianJoo]

yeah for all those what would you do ethical questions I think of what I would do and then pick the opposite and that works really well. I am not the most ethical person i guess.