Patient’s Routine Visit Becomes An Ethical Challenge for a Doctor
Published: March 04, 2008
My patient had come for a routine doctor visit. He was a well-built, soft-spoken middle-aged man who was always polite, respectful and adhered meticulously to his HIV medication. He complained only if he was in a great deal of pain or discomfort.
As usual, I asked him about his family: three adopted children. Over the years that I had known him, the children had grown to adults and had left home. One had secured a job, the second was in college, and the third had just joined the Marines. We talked about his work; he sorted packages at a warehouse. We chatted about the weather and then turned to his health.