Philippine E-Journals

Truth Telling and Patients with Cancer

Remedios L. Fernandez

Discipline: Psychology

 

Abstract:

In April 1991 I was operated because of a suspected stone in the left kidney.  During the operation, it turned out to be a mass at the left ureter with the kidney already necrotic.  Because of these findings, the affected ureter was partially cut and the left kidney removed.  After I regained consciousness, I asked my husband what happened and he told me that “things are not very clear with me,” he does “not understand very well,” but that “we will just ask the doctor when he makes the round.” I had a feeling that something was being kept from me because my husband, who is an architect, never asked the doctor during the rounds to explain my condition.