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This isn’t about what anyone here would want for themselves. It’s about people who would rather not know, but nevertheless have that unwanted information foisted upon them, uninvited, by medical teams who have no idea of the patient’s thoughts and don’t attempt to consult the family to ascertain the patient’s feelings but, for whatever reason, bluster ahead regardless convinced they are doing the right thing. I’ve seen people who, despite their pain and suffering, have maintained hope – and contentment – and a smile - until they have been reduced to mere shells by the devastation and utter hopelessness such information has produced. Humanity and compassion and kindness isn’t patronising – and withholding the truth is not lying - but forcing a terminally ill person to confront a final reality that he doesn’t want to confront and has no need to confront, resulting in him spending his last days and weeks and months in misery and fear, is cruel. The professionals don’t always know best – even though they think they do.