Guideline 10: Conflicting patient-carer treatment preferences
10 out of 14Specific strategies
Attempt to find shared values and common ground between the patient and family.
Try to negotiate a mutually acceptable path.
- Sometimes it will be possible to find shared ground which helps to resolve the disagreement.
- Attempt to find a mutually acceptable path.
- For example if both parties agree that quality of life is paramount, family members may be happier to accept treatment aimed at symptom control over active treatment.
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“It seems like the most important thing to both of you is having as much quality time together as possible. Keeping the cancer under control and minimising the symptoms. [Patient], you want to stop the chemotherapy regime which is making you feel unwell, whereas [family carer] you would prefer that [patient] continue on the chemotherapy as it has been keeping the cancer under control. With this in mind, I propose that we start on a different chemotherapy, one which is known to have fewer side effects”.
OVERALL COMPLETION
