"... Physicians really try to honor their patients' wishes, but when patients ask "What would you do?," we often avoid answering. We don't want to impose our views on the vulnerable."
Personally, I don't let a doctor "off the hook" by sidestepping the question. And I would not create a long-term relationship with a physician unless I felt he/she would give me their own view on such difficult matters. After all, they deal with these issues frequently, and if they withhold their opinion on this, then my emotional response would be - "OK, what else are they withholding", and my trust in their judgement is gone.
That's ok, Kevin. I think we generally won't let you off the hook of making a decision.
First, not everything is black and white, but sometimes shaded with grey, and it may not be so easy to know what one would do...particularly when the decision might be very laden with what a person's philosophy would be.
Second, you've never experienced expressing your opinion, then having a very angry family come at you with a complaint that you were..... 1. trying to kill granny, or 2. trying to keep her alive so you could fleece more money out of her....by forcing your philosophy upon her. These are often accompanied by a threat of a lawsuit, which really enhances the situation.
Third, you've not been fired from a case because what you expressed in your opinion... which was not what you thought
should be done, but was only what
you would do, yourself....makes the patient feel uncomfortable that you will carry out their wishes, that are different than the opinion you'd expressed.
