I need some advice about a patient that I admitted last night. I know we've all debated about these situations in nursing school but I've never had this happen to me in real life before.
The pt came to emerg with increasing SOB. CXR showed a large mass, probably cancerous. Also, L pleural effusion and pneumothorax. Pt very uncomfortable, ++SOB, on 100% NRB O2. Long story short the family does not want the pt told about his dx. Pt is completly competent but does not speak English, thus far we have been relying on his family to translate information for him.
Doctors have agreed not to tell the pt yet, but have refused to do any invasive procedures without him being aware. Therefore no bx. So were in a situation where we doing nothing more than pain control and comfort measures on a pt who is full code. We are watching him die and he doesn't even know it!
If anyone has any advice or has been involved in a situation like this one, please share. Thanx.