A woman I know
was told in no certain terms
that she is dying
and why has she not checked
into hospice yet!
She is alive and working
trying to live her life
as she knows it.
Nobody knows how
the doc phrased his message.
From a nurse friend I understood
that the doctors are required
to tell their patients
the cruel facts when there is
no more that they can do.
Bedside manners matter
more than ever -
there are ways to tell
with empathy
that you are dying.
Alas, mayhap this doctor
needs a remedial course
in phraseology of kindness
or
the doctor was sad and
this was his third patient
that day to swing the ax over.
The recipient of this earful
worries even more
the mind hears only this,
You are a goner.
Present the message mercifully.
