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I agree to all of that. How would you like the way David's diagnosis was given? As we walked into the neuro's office, his first words were, "Oh, he has Parkinson's!" Just like that. He might have been belatedly responding to a telephone conversation we'd had, whereby I'd told him that David had been ill for at least 25 years without a diagnosis. Thank goodness neither of us was terribly shocked. Actually, it was a relief to have a name to what he'd been going through. Bev ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Ann Ryan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 8:53 AM Subject: Re: Diagnosis > David, thank you for your very well written expression of how the patient > and family view Parkinson's Disease. I would disagree with the > 'Albatross' > reference. My husband is hardly that - even though he is severely > impaired > now, he is a treasured member of our family. Our little three year old > grandson considers him especially precious. > > I have been with doctors many times when the diagnosis has been given and > explained. The wide majority of physicians care deeply about their > patients > and are empathetic when identifying a disease process (whatever it may be) > and it's effects. Most of the time I have been a witness to such > communication, the physician has asked me to come into the room so that > when > they leave, the patient will be able to ask the questions the shock of the > diagnosis silences. > > In my experience, patients deal far better with symptoms if they know the > cause. Regardless of how the members of this list view PD, most people > who > receive the diagnosis are told about treatment options (hope) not the > long, > arduous journey ahead. As we all know, everyone's PD path is different - > some progress only slightly while others crash and burn quickly. It is > best > for the patient to be allowed to hope. No one knows what the outcome will > eventually be, certainly not the doctor. > > I'm curious as to why a neurologist would be reluctant to tell a patient > that the diagnosis is PD. In my experience, that is one of the more > benign > diseases a neurologist deals with. What would this doctor, who wrote PD > on > a piece of paper, do if he had to tell a patient that they had a terminal > brain tumor - or ALS. I shiver to think. The guy should be fired. I'd > find another neuro in a heart beat. > ---------- > God bless > Mary Ann (CG Jamie 66/26 with PD) > > I don't know how doctors do it. Parkinson's disease is not >> the worst disease. It gives you time to adjust to your gradual >> limitations. >> But I wouldn't want to tell someone they have Parkinson's disease. I >> wouldn't know how. There's the respect that takes all the fun out of >> playing doctor. >> >> David >> >>>Maybe patients should submit suggestions on ways to break bad news ? >>> >>>My neurologist left the wwritten diagnosis in front of me and sneaked out >>>the >>>room "to answer the phone" - but I'd guessed anyway. >>> > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.3/331 - Release Date: 5/3/2006 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn