Question

A 79-year-old woman with dementia is brought by her daughter to the GP. The daughter requests that her mother is not told about a new diagnosis of breast cancer, as she believes it would upset her. The patient is able to engage, understands information and can retain and weigh it. What is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Discuss the diagnosis directly with the patient and explore her wishes about information sharing

Answer

Agree with the daughter and withhold the diagnosis

Answer

Tell the daughter first and let her decide how much to tell the patient

Answer

Tell neither the patient nor the daughter and write to oncology only

Answer

Refer to psychiatry to assess capacity as dementia automatically means lack of capacity

Practice question