The Importance of Being Honest

Of everything we do for our patients, the most important thing we can give them is honesty.

What you will learn from this module:

1. Learn that being honest with patients about their disease and its prognosis is very important for patients to know so they can plan out the remainder of their lives.
2. Honesty doesn’t take away hope; it helps the patient move through phases of hope.
3. 50% of the time, doctors do not disclose the patients’ actual prognosis.
4. Patients do not understand or know the difference between palliative chemotherapy and active chemotherapy treatments, unless they are told.
5. Teaching patients to be optimistic for as long as it is realistic, while having an end of life plan in place should be our mantra.
6. Avoidance of honesty may be linked to an oncologist’s feelings of believing they have failed the patient by not being able to save or sustain their life.