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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