If a patient has a condition for which there is no medical intervention that improves it, what should a doctor do?

(This is a genuine question by the way)

I used to think so too, but I am getting worried. I have had a very interesting discussion with someone following a conversation with a patient who felt this.

More information gradually emerged.

Note that there had been 2 A&E visits, considered unsuccessful.

At least one consultation with a respiratory specialist, and a bubble echo, and a diagnosis of "post viral", all of which was considered no help.

That's the challenge.

How to explain to people the difference between medicine and magic/homeopathy/alternative medicine?

Because in the latter trio, something always happens. My feeling is that in the latter, what you say doesn't actually have to be true.

I mean, if you are a homeopathist, handing out water in various little vials, can you lose your license?

What, could it be the wrong water? Is there such a possibility?

Can you have a drug error in homeopathy?

If you give someone an overdose of homeopathy, actually it's OK, isn't it?

Because it only works because of the almost infinite dilution. If you give a million times too much, then it isn't dilute any more, so it won't have any effect.

Much safer than (say) warfarin.

Anyway, on a serious note, some excellent answers suggested.

Unfortunately ...

... I agree with all of them so far!

Which means I hold all 3 opinions simultaneously.

Most of us in modern practice wouldn't lie, except perhaps to a person sliced in half by a falling elevator cable as in "The Omen", who asks "Is it bad, doc?"

But maybe our modern practice is too blunt - of saying,
"You had a terrible chest infection and nearly died. You have survived but it may take a long time to recover. There is no injection, tablet, or operation that we know of scientifically that can help speed that up."

"There are tests you can have, but they will merely document the gradual recovery which only your body can do for itself. Doing tests doesn't make your body get healthier, but does (a) make you spend time in hospitals, and (b) make you think about your ill-health."

Here's the problem.

The people saying "Never tell a lie, always tell me the truth."

Are NOT the same people complaining that the doctors are no help.

I wonder if it is like this?

You know when you invest in the stock market,
In the long term ...

Yes of course

And the price of that greater long term return is what, in the short term?

Also obvious.

Everyone knows it.

NOBODY invests in equities without being aware of that.

But there is one problem

6/6 people say "greater volatility"

Easy peasy.

They SAY it, but they don't really think about what it means.

That is why when they see a stock chart like this...

... they are in abject panic.

"A third of the value wiped out in a few weeks! In another few weeks I will be down to zero! Panic! Scream! Sell! Sell! Sell!"

When it ACTUALLY happens you are in no mood to look over the long term and see the thing for what it is.

People did their best to keep their cool at the outset, but when the prices kept falling, there was a colossal explosion of selling by retail investors.

That's the problem.

We say, "If you invest in stocks, the valuation of your investment may go up or down."

People go "OK, I am intelligent and understand what that means".

But when it actually happens, they go bananas.

It's the difference between Jason Bourne saying, "When someone attacks you with a knife, just do what I do. A backflip, neck hold, then grab a ballpoint pen, and do this. Simples."

Nodding is easy.

Actually doing it when the guy shows up unannounced, is a completely different story.

It is easy to say, "We should always be told the truth, as patients."

But it is harder to face the truth, when it actually shows up in the flesh.

Well, let me bid you goodnight, and leave you with the fine words of either Yogi Berra, Richard Feynman or Albert Einstein (who was 3 when it was first said).

"In theory, there is no difference
between theory and practice.
But in practice, there is."

One of those guys, you know, whoever
J Deep Stuff