Christine Delaporte

Telling Sick People the Truth

The issue of medical truth is perceived differently by doctors and patients. From the doctor’s point of view: Should a given patient be told the truth? Should terminally ill patients be told how much longer they may expect to live? From the patient’s point of view: How can I hear the truth and learn to live with the disease? This book should help health professionals deal with emotionally difficult moments of truth. It should also help patients and their loved ones to feel less alone, once they have heard the truth, and to gradually learn to live with their disease. Christine Delaporte is a head of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.