"Not Until I See My Other Doctor"

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Palliative Care
• Patient-Centered Medicine

Background:

• A medical student's encounters with a terminally ill cancer patient.
• Exploration of patient's life, outlook, and treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the limits of medical intervention in terminal illness.
• To understand patient priorities at the end of life.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative narrative analysis of patient-physician interactions.
• Case study of a single patient's journey.

Main Results:

• The patient's perspective offered insights into the limits of medicine.
• Understanding patient values is crucial for end-of-life care decisions.

Conclusions:

• Medicine's role extends beyond curative treatment.
• Prioritizing patient values enhances end-of-life care and decision-making.