Angry. Upset.

So today mum came home from hospital to get hospital bed. Although she's currently sat on the sofa with a glass of Bailey's and some Maltesers. Class haha.

Anyway, on the discharge letter I have read that under the list of 'chronic diagnosis'.. It says 'bone metastasis'. No Dr has even told us this. Mum did say the other day that she didn't want to know anymore at that point when one of the Drs was telling her nothing more that can be done. But I'm extremely angry to have found out that Mum has bone cancer this way. I've not said anything to mum as I know she doesn't want to know but she knows there's something wrong so she said she won't read the piece of paper.

Sorry for the long paragraph. I want to go to the hospital and slap some Drs. Surely they could have pulled me (next of Kin) or my mum's sister to a side.

  • Hi Zoelouisee,

    I'm so sorry to read about your Mum's diagnosis and the fact that she doesn't wish to hear the details.

    Your reaction is understandable but without a patient's direct permission talking to anyone, however closely related, about their case is unlawful. Clinician's have been taken to court and struck off for breaching patient confidentiality in exactly the same circumstances. Not everyone wants their relatives to know what they are going through, so the assumption must always be that unless a patient says otherwise everything is confidential from anyone not directly providing care.

    If your Mum is willing to put in writing the fact that she wants you to have access to her records and to act as her proxy, this would enable them to be able to talk to you freely. 

    Baileys and Maltesers sounds like a perfect combination to me :-)

    Best wishes

    Dave