A Patient with Advanced Cancer Decides to Discontinue Chemotherapy Treatment

question 15

Multiple Choice

A patient with advanced cancer decides to discontinue chemotherapy treatment and try an alternative therapy that has not been proven effective.The nurse,whose mother recently died of the same type of cancer,strongly disagrees with the patient's choice.How should the nurse respond when the patient asks for an opinion about the alternative therapy?

• A) "I'm sorry, but I don't feel prepared to answer your question. I would prefer you ask your physician that question."
• B) "My mother died recently of the same type of cancer you have. I would be very careful before stopping the therapy."
• C) "Because your disease is so advanced and traditional treatments have failed, I think trying the alternative treatment can do no harm."
• D) "As a nurse, I am obligated to encourage you to seek the best treatment possible. I cannot in good conscience advise you to have the alternative treatment."

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