If Someone Has A Terminal Illness Why Do They Feel The Need To Self Isolate?

[dave50]

There was a lady on TV this morning who has terminal cancer so was in a vulnerable group so the family have decided not to visit her, so she will be all alone at Christmas. A very sad story indeed but I wondered why.

[Sqad]

LOL...a good question dave of which I have no answer.

[grumpy01]

Perhaps they feel they should act responsibly and not go out of their tier area.

[rowanwitch]

As far as I am concerned if someone with a terminal illness is happy to take the risk, knowing they may have less time but better quality I would say go for it. They probably wouldn't cope with a big do but visits and hugs why not.

[calmck]

If it was me I would want my family to visit as I might not see them again

[barry1010]

Maybe they don't want to bring the end forward. Some people living with a terminal illness can be quite well and able to enjoy life for many months before the end.

[dannyk13]

Rowan//As far as I am concerned if someone with a terminal illness is happy to take the risk,//
But what about the visitors? They would also be taking a risk.

[bobbinwales]

Depends how terminal. If less than a couple of months to go then if it was me what was terminal a would want to see peopel, but if 12 months a would think twice but probly suggest they get a test or quarantine for 2 weeks before coming

[bhg481]

The problem is that catching Covid could lead to several weeks in intensive care with no visitors at all, not even those who can stand outside your house and wave through the windows.

[mallyh]

my sister and i stayed with our terminally ill mum and if it was lockdown i would still do it xx

[bobbinwales]

agree with danny so on that basis all should be tested and then self isolate for a bit before any visit.
I have the dilema with my mum, should I have her for tea at Christmas if allowed to cross the border and take the risk as she want to see us bad and in her mid 80s she might not have many chrismas's to go.
The vaccinne changes thing's here now though. We'ell wait.
If a terminal person is getting the vaccinne it may be better to wait untill after, maybe late January??

[iluvmargie]

So would I mally, in a heartbeat.

[rowanwitch]

It's unlikely someone with a terminal illness would be a candidate for intensive care.

As I said if they wanted to take the risk, knowing what the risk is. let them set the boundaries they are comfortable with. If they hadn't been going out, they would be pretty low risk to others. If they had a long prognosis they would probably prefer to wait, but weeks?? To some simply one more day of breathing is to be fought for, for some the decision would be different

[bobbinwales]

Yes , but still better to be tested first in my view, corona if caught would allmost certainly kill such a person and can be a horribler death sadly

[roopower]

Having terminal cancer is bad enough but even worse would be getting the virus and being on a ventilator fighting for every breath.

[bednobs]

perhaps the family does not want to catch it from her!

[ichkeria]

Self isolation is to stop you passing it on, so having a terminal illness is irrelevant.

Shielding is for ones own benefit

[jourdain2]

I can't see why someone with a terminal illness should isolate and miss his/her last family Christmas. The isolation bit is to stop deaths and spread, isn't it? If you are going to die anyway, reasonably soon and are not going out much then there is no logic to not seeing your family.