Interesting topic, right: How Much Do YOU Want to Know About YOUR Health? Especially regarding our future life expectancy.
Recently, B.J. Miller and Shoshana Berger wrote a valuable op ed piece for the New York Times on “Don’t Tell Me When I’m Going to Die. Prognoses are more of an art than a science. Maybe it’s better not to know.”
Here are a few of their observations:
“Prognoses are based on the average experiences and life spans of patients who came before you. But any physician will tell you that coming up with one is more of an art than a science, and doctors are often wrong. Studies have long shown that physicians are particularly prone to overestimating life expectancy — especially when they like their patient.”
“Still, choosing not to know your prospects is surprising in this golden age of data. But the choice not to know can also be liberating. You can say, ‘No thanks, I opt out.’”
According to Miller and Berger:
“Steve Scheier, an expert in organizational decision making, devised a Prognosis Declaration. And it allows patients to choose among a few options. WHERE DO YOU FIT?
-
-
-
- Tell me everything.
- I’ve not decided what I want to know about my prognosis, so ask me over the course of my treatment.
- I want to participate in my treatment, but I don’t want to receive any information on my prognosis.
- I don’t wish to know any information about my prognosis but I authorize you to speak with [blank] about my case and for you to answer any questions that this person may have about my likely prognosis and treatment.
-
-
-
- Click the image to read more.
