An interesting thing happened at my consultation yesterday following my recent MRI scan.

The consultant neurosurgeon and the Neuro-oncology Specialist Nurse had these martyred expressions on their faces.

They said that my recent scan hasn’t shown significant change but they discussed my case at their MDT meeting and they believe that I should have a biopsy and radiotherapy.

I told them my concerns. I told them about my scepticism. They nodded empathetically, but I’m not sure they really listened to me.

Then they brought in an oncologist who just repeated stuff that I already knew. I have been living with this for 6 years … dude, I’ve done my research. I again expressed my worries about the biopsy (which would be very risky in my case), they said I probably couldn’t have any treatment without it. I asked them if proton beam wasn’t a better option in my situation, he said there wasn’t really any difference between proton beam and radiotherapy (!).

The consultant mentioned that I was from Prague (Proton Beam Centre). The oncologist smirked and said: “well, you can go and pay for it if you want.”

And there was this emotional pressure. I felt they were almost on a mission. They repeated the same thing like ten times. I just couldn’t handle it and started crying.

I’m not blaming these people. They are doing their job and they genuinely want to help me. But it made me wonder how far can doctors go in making patients feel coerced.

It wasn’t aggressive. But I don’t believe it was professional either. I almost felt guilty for not being complaisant.

I explained that it is very difficult to make such an important decision now, when I’m feeling more or less ok. They seemed to comprehend my point but kept asking me when I want the appointment to be booked.

My problem is that I probably know and have seen too much. I’m surrounded by patients and their stories on daily basis. I have friends who were left paralysed after surgery or unable to speak for weeks even after a biopsy. As much as I understand their good motives, I cannot take everything they say at face value.

So my question to the void is: if the patients always have a final say, how far should doctors go to pressure them into making difficult decisions?